dietary recommendations

BACK to FAQs Dietary Recommendations

There is no Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for sodium. However, the National Academy of Sciences has established that healthy adults need a minimum of 500 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that sodium intake should be less than 2400 mg per day. The food labeling rules of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) state that the Daily Value (DV) for sodium is 2400 mg. The National High Blood Pressure Education Program also recommends that, as part of an overall healthy diet, Americans should consume no more than 2400 mg of sodium per day (about 6 grams of salt.)

In their statement on sodium intake and high blood pressure, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) suggest that all Americans moderate salt intake to help prevent and treat hypertension (high blood pressure) (http:www.nhlbi.gov/new/press/17-1998.htm).

When viewing the contents of this page, keep in mind that depending on your health status, these tables may or may not apply to you. For example, salt-sensitive individuals with hypertension (high blood pressure) are often recommended to choose a low sodium diet. Consult your health care provider before making any drastic dietary changes.

Estimated

Age
0-5 mo.
6-11 mo.
1 yr.
2-5 yr.
6-9 yr.
10-18 yr.
>18 yr.

Sodium Minimum Requirements

Weight (kg)
4.50
8.90
11.0
16.0
25.0
50.0
70.0

of Healthy Persons

Sodium (mg)
120
200
225
300
400
500
500

(Contemporary Nutrition: issues and insights/Gordon M. Wardlaw, Paul M. Insel, Marcia F. Seyler, 2nd ed., Mosby-Year Book, Inc.1994)

US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services:
US DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS 2000, 5^th EDITION

Aim For Fitness:
1.   Aim for a healthy weight.
2.   Be physically active each day.
Build a Healthy Base:
3.   Let the Pyramid guide your food choices.
4.   Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains.
5.   Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
6.   Keep food safe to eat.
Choose sensibly:
7.   Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.
8.   Choose beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars.
9.   Choose and prepare foods with less salt.
10.   If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.

American Heart Association:
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY ADULT AMERICAN 1999

1. Saturated fat intake should be 8-10% of calories.
2. Total fat intake should be less than 30% of calories.
3. Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake should be up to 10% of calories.
4. Monounsaturated fatty acid intake should make up to 15% of calories.
5. Cholesterol intake should be less than 300 mg per day.
6. Carbohydrate intake should make up 55-60% or more of calories with emphasis on increasing
complex carbohydrates.
7. The sodium intake should be less than 2400 mg per day, which is about 1 1/4 teaspoons
of salt.
8. Total calories should be adjusted to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Sciences:
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR DIET AND HEALTH 1992

1.   FAT: Reduce total fat intake to 30% or less of calories.
      Reduce saturated fat to less than 10% of calories.
      Reduce cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg daily.
2.   Eat five or more servings of vegetables (especially green & yellow) and fruits (especially citrus)
      daily.
3.   Increase intake of starches and other complex carbohydrates by eating six or more daily
      servings of breads, cereals and legumes.
4.   Eat a moderate amount of protein (i.e. 6 ounces of meat or equivalent a day).
5.   Balance the amount of food with exercise to maintain appropriate body weight.
6.   Alcohol is not recommended; however limit daily consumption to two cans of beer, two small
      glasses of wine or two average cocktails. Pregnant women should avoid all alcoholic drinks.
7.   Limit salt to 6 grams (slightly more than one teaspoon) daily.
8.   Maintain adequate calcium intake.
9.   Avoid taking dietary supplements in excess of the US RDA in any one day.
10. Maintain optimal level of fluoride.

Dietary Recommendations are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.

The % Daily Value (DV) indicates, for those who eat 2,000 calories a day, how much of the recommended amounts is provided in one serving of the food.

Your daily amounts may vary depending on the calories you eat in a day.

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