I was under the impression that the main health problem associated with a sodium-high diet was high blood pressure, which leads to heart problems in adults. However, it’s rather unlikely that young people will have much of a problem with hardening of the arteries or high blood pressure (unless they have some rare condition or they’re obese). As a 22 year old of average weight and acceptable blood pressure, do I have anything to fear from ingesting more than the recommended daily value of sodium? What about for children and teens?
Babies’ kidneys simply cannot process large amounts of salt.
If you check foods aimed at babies and toddlers you’ll often see “low salt” or " no added salt" labels.
Of course, developing an early taste for salt can mean that you eat more as an adult… when you do have to worry about your BP.
Interesting little case study about sodium levels in breast milk.
It was discovered shortly after the Korean War that a large percentage of the young fighting Americans had arteriosclosis. It is a fallacy that just because you are young you are immune to the ravages of a bad diet, lack of exercise, etc.
That said, many people do not have to fear salt. It is only a minority of people for whom salt possesses the danger of hypertension.
http://www.drmirkin.com/heart/8123.htm
http://www.drmirkin.com/archive/6996.html