Americans Eat Too Much Salt
March 26, 2009 by Sandy Mitchell
Filed under Recipes
Most Americans consume more than double the amount of their daily recommended level of sodium. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than two out of three adults should consume no more than 1500 milligrams (mg) per day of sodium. During 2005-2006 the estimated average intake of sodium for persons in the United States age two years and older was 3436 mg per day.
A diet high in sodium increases the risk of having higher blood pressure, a major cause for heart disease and stroke. These diseases are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States.
“It’s important for people to eat less salt. People who adopt a heart healthy eating pattern that includes a diet low in sodium and rich in potassium and calcium can improve their blood pressure,” said Darwin R. Labarthe, M.D., Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. “Reducing sodium intake can prevent or delay increases in blood pressure for everyone.”
“People need to know their recommended daily sodium limit and take action to reduce sodium intake,” Labarthe said. Most of the sodium we eat comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods. CDC along with other HHS agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, will be working with major food manufacturers and chain restaurants to reduce sodium levels in the food supply.
(photo credit: stock xchng)
People don’t realize that most of the processed packaged foods like Velveeta macaroni and cheese are very high in sodium. One box of this product is about 2700 mg of sodium! That’s insane. We need to read labels more often.