Is salt good for you?

A little bit of salt each day is important to replace amounts lost through sweat and to supply the body with necessary nutrients, according to WebMD. However, more than about one teaspoon of salt each day can increase a person's risk of high blood pressure.

While iodized salt is important to infant brain development because it produces the thyroid hormore, the average adult should limit daily salt intake to 2,400 milligrams, according to WebMD. Staying within this allowance is a challenge given the processed foods and salty snacks in the diet of many Americans. Higher blood volume and excess water retention are health risks associated with high salt intake, reports CNCA Health.