Researchers in Canada say if every Canadian cut their salt intake in half high blood pressure would be eliminated in one million people.
The researchers from British Columbia say, that action alone would save the health-care system hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
In new research Professor Michel Joffres of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby and his colleagues looked at the effects of dramatically cutting sodium consumption.
It is estimated that about five million Canadians, have hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says hypertension also contributes to kidney failure and dementia.
Statistics Canada suggest that people only need 200 milligrams of sodium a day, but on average, most Canadians consume about 3,500 milligrams a day, not including the salt people add to their food.
The researchers who based their statistical analysis of data from clinical trials and health surveys of Canadians, say reducing sodium intake by an average of 1,840 milligrams a day would decrease hypertension by 20 per cent and save the cost of medication to control high blood pressure.
According to Professor Joffres that would reduce the high blood pressure of about one million people, and reduce health-care costs by more than $430 million a year.
Joffres says lower hypertension rates could prevent or postpone about 7,000 deaths in Canada each year.