Let us be honest here, salt is delicious. Maybe not by itself, but it sure makes food taste better. I personally add salt to all the food I eat: eggs, soup, meat, and of course fries. Salt is a must to pretty much every great tasting dish. But too much salt is dangerous to our health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report stating that nine out of ten American citizens each too much salt daily. This means that 90% of the U.S population is overindulging on this delicious yet dangerous spice. The recommended daily intake of salt is 2,300 milligrams. If you have certain conditions or are over the age of 50, your daily limit should be around 1,500 milligrams. However, the average American consumes about 3,250 milligrams a day, not including salt added at the table. Why is this a problem? High sodium levels increase blood pressure and the risk for heart attack and stroke. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for Americans. So if we could lower the number of heart disease cases by simply reducing salt intake, why wouldn’t we?! And if you are not worried about your heart health, think of this problem from a financial point of view. Heart disease and stroke cost the American population over $273 billion in health care costs annually.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also released a list of the 10 foods that account for more than 40% of consumed sodium. These are:

·         Breads and rolls

·         Deli lunch meats

·         Pizza

·         Poultry

·         Soups

·         Cheeseburgers and other Burgers

·         Cheese

·         Pasta dishes

·         Meat dishes

·         Snack foods like chips and popcorn

This report goes on to say that two-thirds of the ingested sodium comes from products we purchase in stores and about 25% from food we eat in restaurants. The salt we add to food at home accounts for only about 5% of sodium intake. Because of this, recent health campaigns have focused on reducing salt in foods we purchase at the grocery store. Reducing sodium intake by a mere 10% would help save over 28,000 people each year so take care of your family and friends and do not offer foods doused in salt.

In order to do this, you can look for low sodium packages of the foods you enjoy, as well as eat more fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. If you are not sure what your intake is or what the sodium intake is for your favorite foods, consult a registered dietitian. One visit can help save you money and even more important, your life!!!!