Salt and the Blood Vessels It is generally recommended that healthy people eat no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium a day -- about the amount found in one teaspoon (6 grams) of table salt. The improvement appeared to be unrelated to the impact on blood pressure, suggesting that salt restriction is independently protective of blood vessel function. The study measured the impact of salt restriction on the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line the interior of the blood vessels and help regulate blood flow.

"Processed foods are often loaded with salt,. But the average American eats more than twice that, even if they rarely pick up a salt shaker, says Clinic cardiologist Myrvyn Fletcher, MD, who is a spokesman for the American Heart Association. Overweight and obese study participants with normal blood pressure who restricted the sodium in their diets sho evidence of improved endothelial function compared to participants who did not restrict salt.

"We found that if we reduced the salt in the diet, we saw a direct, positive impact on blood vessels," nutrition researcher and study co- Keogh, PhD, tells.

Results from a new study suggest that eating a low-sodium diet can also help keep blood vessels working properly.