According to researchers cutting down about just three grams salt everyday could stop 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks, and 92,000 deaths in America. If all these things were stopped then health costs by $24 billion could be saved.

Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of the University of California, San Francisco and colleagues said this goal was not difficult to attain.

In the US salt is overly used and is responsible for high blood pressure and heart disease. About 75 to 80 per cent salt comes from processed and packed food. About 10.4 grams salt is consumed by men and women consume much more, by about 7.3 grams and salt use is on a rise.

Reports state that just one gram salt reduction would cut down 11,000 to 23,000 strokes, 18,000 to 35,000 heart attacks and 15,000 to 32,000 deaths. These findings were reported in New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers wrote that, "Even if the federal government were to bear the entire cost of a regulatory program designed to reduce salt consumption, the government would still be expected to realize cost savings for Medicare, saving $6 to $12 in health expenditures for each dollar spent on the regulatory program."

Dr Lawrence Appel and Cheryl Anderson of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore however gave a contradictory view stating that latest findings may be underestimating the benefits of salt.

Salt intake may help in cutting down the risk of stomach cancer, kidney disease, congestive heart failure and osteoporosis.