The Salty Six

The Salty Six

Eating too many salty foods can create all sorts of health problems, including high blood pressure. But did you know a lot of common foods are packed with excess sodium? It’s not just the French fries and potato chips you need to be careful with.

That’s why the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is increasing awareness of sodium and the “Salty Six” – common foods that may be loaded with excess sodium that can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

The average American consumes about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day – more than twice the 1,500 milligrams recommended by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. That’s in large part because of our food supply; more than 75 percent of our sodium consumption comes from processed and restaurant foods.

The top six sources of sodium in today’s diet include:

Bread and Rolls: Bread is a food that is eaten several times a day. Each slice can contain up to 230 milligrams of sodium.

Cold Cuts: One 20 ounce serving or 6 thin slices of deli meat contain as much as half of your daily recommended dietary salt.

Pizza: A slice of pizza with several toppings can contain more than ½ of your daily recommended sodium.

Soup: Sodium in one cup of soup can range from 100 to 970 milligrams, more than ½ of your daily recommended intake.

Poultry: Sodium levels can vary due to preparation methods. Choose wisely.

Sandwiches: Sandwiches or burgers from fast food restaurants can contain more than 100 percent of your daily suggested dietary sodium.