University of California, San Francisco computer simulation research projects that a 3-gram-a-day reduction in Americans’ salt intake (about 1,200 milligrams of sodium) would result in 6 percent fewer cases of new heart disease, 8 percent fewer heart attacks and 3 percent fewer deaths.

Most of us now eat 9-12 grams of salt a day. Both salt intake and blood pressure levels are up about 50 percent since the 1970s; researchers identify commercially processed foods as the culprit.

Source: American Heart Association, 2009