Paying attention to dietary sodium is very important to living a healthy lifestyle. Most Americans get more sodium in their diet than they need. This is a concern because high sodium intake can lead to heart disease; the number one cause of death in the United States.
You can reduce this risk by reducing salt intake. Sodium intake should be limited to 2,300 milligrams per day or 1,5000 milligrams per day if you’re African-American, over the age of 51 or have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
Sodium is highest in processed foods and at restaurants. According to the CDC, 40% of sodium is consumed in 10 types of foods:
- Breads and rolls
- Cold cuts and cured meats such as deli or packaged ham, or turkey
- Pizza
- Fresh and processed poultry
- Soups
- Sandwiches such as cheeseburgers
- Cheese
- Pasta dishes
- Meat- mixed dishes such as meat loaf with tomato sauce
- Snacks such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn
It’s important to remember that different brands of the same product can contain different amounts of sodium, so always check the labels to find the lowest sodium option. Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are great low sodium foods sources.
