Q
How much salt is too much for high BP?
⚡ Quick answer
For high BP, target under 1500mg/day (less than 1 teaspoon).
For people with high blood pressure, the recommended sodium limit is 1500mg per day — about 3/4 teaspoon of salt. The general adult limit is 2300mg.
Reality check: most people consume 3000-4000mg daily — mostly from processed and restaurant food, not the salt shaker. A single restaurant meal can have 2500-3500mg sodium.
What to track: read labels carefully. "Low sodium" = less than 140mg per serving. Watch for hidden sources — bread, breakfast cereals, soy sauce, soup, deli meats, condiments.
Worst offenders: pickles (800mg per spoon), tinned soup (1500mg per tin), instant noodles (2000mg per pack), processed meats (1000mg per slice), restaurant pizza (2500mg per slice), Chinese takeout (3000mg per dish).
Reducing sodium from 3500mg to 1500mg can drop systolic BP by 5-7 mmHg — comparable to many BP medications.
Read our full evidence-based guide on blood pressure for the complete picture.
View Full Guide →We write from peer-reviewed research and clinical guidance. These links let you read the underlying evidence yourself rather than taking our word for it.