About 90 percent of adult Americans are eating too much salt, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
To determine how many Americans were exceeding the recommended intake for sodium, the CDC estimated average sodium intake and sources of sodium and calories by food category data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2005−2006, the most recent available NHANES data.
Recommended intakes for sodium were divided into 2 groups: 1. High risk for heart disease (African Americans, middle-aged and those with high blood pressure) and 2. All other adults. According to the guidelines, the first group should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day, and the second group no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. To put it in perspective, about 1 tsp of table salt equals 2,000mg of sodium.
The CDC report found that for 2005-2006:
- Overall, only 9.6% of all US adults met the applicable 2005 guideline recommended daily limit for sodium.
- 5.5%of the 1,500 mg and 18.8% of the 2,300 mg per day group met the applicable daily limit.
- The average daily sodium consumption per US adult was 3,466 mg per day.
- The highest source of sodium (about 77%) was from fast food and processed foods.
Of course the main concern in overdoing the sodium is the increased risk for high blood pressure leading to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Keep your intake low by avoiding canned, processed and restaurant foods. The more food you prepare with fresh, unprocessed ingredients, the more sodium content can be controlled. In addition to decreasing sodium intake, consuming beetroot juice, supplements such as CoQ-10 or peptide products and stress management can also be effective ways to keep blood pressure under control.
–Nicole Gould, RD LD
