How much sodium should you eat in a day?

As of 2014, the American Heart Association recommends that adults should consume 1500 mg of sodium or less per day. This recommendation does not apply to individuals, such as firefighters, who work in extremely hot conditions. It also does not apply to competitive athletes, who lose sodium during intense exercise.

Sodium occurs naturally in many foods, including milk and some vegetables. About 12 percent of the sodium eaten by Americans occurs naturally, and more than 75 percent of consumed sodium comes from processed food additives. Americans add the remaining 13 percent of consumed sodium when they cook or serve food.