How Much Sodium Are You Eating?

Our bodies need sodium to work, but usually we get more sodium than we need.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Americans over the age of 2 consume 3,436 mg of sodium each day, 77 percent of which comes from packaged, processed, store-bought, and restaurant/fast foods. Another 12 percent is found naturally in foods. The figure does not include sodium added during cooking (5 percent) or salt that is added at the table (6 percent). The current recommendation for Americans, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, is to limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg or about one teaspoon of table salt per day. However, the American Heart Association and the CDC recommend lowering this to 1,500 mg or about one-half teaspoon of salt per day.

Public health officials are worried about sodium because there is a strong link between it and high blood pressure, and uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease.