What you learned in school
Health education classes taught that everyone should minimize salt intake to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. Students learned that salt was universally harmful and that low-sodium diets were always healthier for all people. Textbooks presented a simple "salt is bad" message without discussing individual variations in salt sensitivity. The recommendation was for everyone to drastically reduce sodium consumption regardless of their personal health profile or blood pressure status.
What we know now
Health education taught that everyone should minimize salt intake to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. Students learned that salt was universally harmful and that low-sodium diets were always better. Only about 25% of people are "salt-sensitive" and experience significant blood pressure changes from sodium intake. For most people, moderate salt consumption doesn't pose health risks. Very low-sodium diets can actually be harmful for some individuals. The relationship between salt and health is more complex than the simple "salt is bad" message suggested. Individual responses to sodium vary greatly.