Should you really avoid salt at all costs? Here are the facts, salt, or sodium is an essential mineral, its consumption is critical to our health. The problem is that the average person consumes double the recommended amount, so quite a bit more than the total upper intake. So this myth is rooted in a grain of truth. It is true that people with salt sensitive hypertension should avoid too much salt because it raises their blood pressure. In most people, however, there appears to be little to no association between salt consumption and hypertension.

When controlling for other factors. You have to understand that excess sodium may not raise blood pressure, but it is associated with other health issues, such as kidney damage, and an increased risk of cognitive decline. So the bottom line, salt or sodium isn't strongly associated with high blood pressure except in people with salt sensitive hypertension. Still, anything in excess is harmful and sodium is no exception.