The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend an upper limit for sodium consumption of 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day for adults. If you are African American, age 51 or older or have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic disease, that recommendation is lowered to 1,500 milligrams per day. Average American consumption of sodium is close to 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day. Just 1 teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams of sodium.