Excessive salt intake has been linked to clogged arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study by researchers at Uppsala University’s Clinical Research Center in Sweden. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, is the first to examine the link between high salt intake and atherosclerosis, the narrowing of arteries caused by plaque deposits which blocks blood flow to the heart and brain. The study involved over 10,000 Swedish participants aged 50 to 64 years and revealed that every 1,000mg increase in sodium excretion was associated with a 3-4% higher amount of plaque in the arteries. Even in individuals with normal blood pressure levels, the findings indicate salt could be harmful even before the development of hypertension. The World Health Organisation recommends minimising salt intake to about a teaspoon a day as reducing salt intake is one of the most cost-effective measures that countries can take to improve health outcomes. However, other experts view salt restriction as harmful and warn that too little salt can lead to weight gain and type 2 diabetes amongst other health problems.