Are You Sodium-smart?

Most people in the US consume more than twice the daily recommended amount of salt, according to the American Heart Association. Sodium intake from packaged foods, table salt, and condiments like soy sauce averaged nearly 4,000 mg a day per person. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting sodium to less than 2,000 mg a day, and the latest U.S. Dietary guidelines recommends consuming only 2,300 mg daily (1 teaspoon) and more like 1,500 mg if you’re over age 51 or at risk for hypertension or other cardiovascular problems.
If you are sodium-smart, you may not sprinkle salt on your food, but you still may be consuming too much salt. More than 75 percent of salt intake comes from processed/packaged foods, and only 11 percent comes from salt added while cooking or eating, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. More than 40 percent of all the sodium in American diets can be traced to 10 foods alone, including deli meats, spaghetti sauce, canned soups/fish, seasoning packets, frozen meals, vegetable juices, store-made breads, condiments, processed dairy items, and restaurant dining.

The registered dietitians of Christian Health’s Food and Nutrition Services can provide more information about salt intake and other nutritional topics to your group or organization through the CH Speakers Bureau. For more information, call (201) 848-5200 .