Overview

• Analysis of NHANES 2017–2020 data shows the average U.S. adult consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium daily, far above the 2,300 mg limit linked to elevated hypertension and heart disease risk.
• Sodium sources vary markedly by group: Asian Americans get over 14 percent of their intake from soy-based condiments, Mexican Americans from mixed traditional dishes, and Black adults from processed chicken products.
• Revising the assumption that Asian households add salt to rice lowers their estimated daily sodium intake by roughly 325 mg, repositioning them among the groups with lower overall intake.
• Despite Black adults reporting the highest rates of physician advice and personal efforts to reduce salt, under 4 percent of U.S. adults use potassium-rich salt substitutes recommended by the World Health Organization.
• Researchers urge culturally customized interventions—such as promoting low-sodium soy sauces, reformulating mixed dishes, and encouraging potassium-rich foods—to curb excessive sodium and improve cardiovascular health.