Lower salt consumption could save US $18 billion annually in health costs, study finds

We all know that too much salt is bad for our health because it raises blood pressure, but it's also bad for our wallets. Now a new study from the RAND Corporation says lowering sodium consumption among Americans could save the country up to $18 billion annually in health costs and improve quality of life for millions of people. The study, published in the September/October edition of the Journal of Health Promotion, says meeting national sodium guidelines could reduce the number of high blood pressure cases by 11 million across the nation and extend the lives of thousands of people each year. That equates to an estimated monetary value $32 billion annually in improved quality of life. Controlling sodium intake is a small measure that individuals can take to improve their health, but it has a big impact, both physically and economically.