Can extra salt hurt your kidneys?

Sodium is a mineral that your body needs to function well. When you combine sodium with chloride, the two make table salt.

Your kidneys balance the amount of sodium in your body. If you’re getting too much, it builds up in your blood. Your heart works harder to pump and increases blood pressure, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Sodium is added to most processed foods. It’s also in a lot of condiments.

“It’s very easy for us to get way more sodium than we need,” said Dr. Ivan Porter II, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist. “And it’s very easy for us to get a dangerous amount of sodium that has some impact on our blood pressure or our overall health,”

The recommended daily limit of sodium is 2,300 milligrams, or about 1 teaspoon. Dr. Porter recommends reading food labels and cutting back on the saltshaker by using salt-free seasonings.

— MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK