What is the recommended sodium allowance per day?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a maximum of 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day for ages 2 years and over. Adults over the age of 51, all African Americans and anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or chronic liver disease should limit sodium to 1,500 milligrams.

The body needs some sodium to function properly. Excess sodium, however, increases blood pressure and the risk of a stroke or heart disease. Americans get more than two-thirds of their daily sodium intake from restaurants and processed foods, and the CDC estimates that nearly 90 percent of U.S. children consume too much sodium.