"Wisdom lies in taking everything with good humor and a grain of salt," said the Spanish-American writer George Santayana.

He was right. It's smart to cultivate good humor and to be aware of your salt intake.

Good humor can alleviate stress and laughing improves oxygen intake. And the recommended maximum daily Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake (CDRRI) for grains of salt is around 1 teaspoon, containing 2,300 milligrams of sodium.  

But the average American gets about 3,400 mg of sodium daily (some get a lot more).

Why do people consume so much salt? Because highly processed, prepackaged foods, snacks, and condiments are loaded with it. One eighth of a pizza can contain half the recommended CDRRI.

That takes a toll on your cardiovascular system.

A study in European Heart Journal Open tracked the sodium intake and heart health of 10,800 people ages 50 to 64. The research showed the higher a person's salt intake, the more artery-blocking plaque in their necks and hearts — increasing their risk for heart attack, stroke, sexual dysfunction, and dementia. 

So how can you help protect your cardiovascular system and enjoy the power of salt?

Enjoy a diet free of prepared foods and loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables and omega-3-rich fish, cooked at home. Then a few grains sprinkled on your food should give you no worries — unless your doctor tells you to avoid salt because of high blood pressure, osteoporosis or kidney disease.

Another option? Try potassium salt.

For more insights on diet and heart health, visit the library at LongevityPlaybook.com.