We all love salty popcorn and who can resist a good pretzel? Unfortunately Americans are now eating almost twice as much salt as we should be and too much salt is really bad for your health.
Here’s more information from the CDC salt site:
Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt, and the vast majority of sodium we consume is in processed and restaurant foods. Too much sodium is bad for your health. It can increase your blood pressure and your risk for a heart attack and stroke. Heart disease and stroke are the first and third killers of men and women in the United States each year.
Current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that adults in general should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. At the same time, consume potassium-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. However, if you are in the following population groups, you should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day (approximately 2/3 teaspoon), and meet the potassium recommendation (4,700 mg/day) with food.
- You are 40 years of age or older.
- You are African American.
- You have high blood pressure.
A CDC report shows that 2 out of 3 (69%) adults in the United States fall into these three groups who are at especially high risk for health problems from consuming too much sodium. Eating less sodium can help prevent, or control, high blood pressure.
