Americans Continue to Consume Sodium in Surprising Foods

It’s no secret that Americans consume too much salt, but the highest sodium foods are surprising. For instance, a store bought loaf of bread not only contains a number of preservatives, but a slice of that bread can contain as much as a teaspoon of table salt – per slice. Other sodium levels in things that people think of as “healthy” can be shocking. Read on to find out how to avoid many of the hidden culprits that are lurking on grocery store shelves.

Q: What other “healthy” items are secretly chock-full of sodium?

Information Nation: Cottage cheese has been touted for years as one of the best diet foods, but in fact it is loaded with salt. In fact, one cup can contain as much as 900 mg of sodium.

Q: I know that salami is high in salt, but what about other deli meats? 

Information Nation: Cold cuts and cured meats such as deli ham are very high in salt. Also, turkey – which tends to be thought of as healthy – can be surprisingly salt-filled.

Q: What other foods would people be surprised to learn about?

Information Nation: Well, we doubt that it would shock anyone to learn that frozen pizza and potato chips and pretzels are high in salt. But, read the label when buying poultry because some brands do inject the meat with salt as a preservative.

Q: What percentage of salt in my diet comes from the shaker vs. a package?

Information Nation: Most of the salt that Americans consume comes from a package, a can or a box. In fact 65% of the salt that people eat comes from retail stores. Another 25% comes from restaurants, both fast food and chains.

Q: What can I do to control my sodium intake?

Information Nation: A lot of people choose to purchase low sodium options, but that should really only be the start. For instance, instead of buying a package of buttered noodles that can be microwaved – and has the sodium content of 770 mg per serving – a person could make noodles and add unsalted butter to them and control their own salt content.