Too Much Salt

(CNN)-- A pinch here, a dash there. Can salt be really all that bad for you? Well, it all depends on how much you use.

Shake it or pour it, it's not surprise that Americans use too much salt. Although sodium plays an important role in regulating body fluids and blood pressure, health experts say we consume 50% more sodium than we should.

Doctors say all that salt can cause water retention that leads to high blood pressure, heart problems and strokes.

Jane Delgado with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health explains, "We know that salt makes celss assume more water, assume more weight and assumer a more difficult situation for the body to work well."

Know How Much Is Enough.

The American Heart Association recommends that most people limit their sodium intake to no more than 2,400 milligrams, or 6 grams a day.

That's just a little over a teaspoon. Salt is in everything, especially processed foods, like lunch meats and even in those diet TV dinners.

Doctors recommend reading labels and count your salt milligrams to monitor your salt intake.

For those with high blood pressure, some doctors say lowering sodium intake to 1,800 milligrams would probably be healthier.

A quick guide for following nutrient guidelines for food labeling:

-Low-sodium: 140 mg or less per serving

-Very low-sodium: 35 mg or less per serving

-Sodium-free: Less than 5 mg per serving.