Your body only needs a little bit of sodium — less than 500 mg a day — to work the way it should. But most of us get way more than that.
In fact, the average American eats over 3,300 mg of sodium a day. That’s more than double the recommended limit of 1,500–2,300 mg. And too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
The good news? Cutting back — even by just 1,000 mg a day — can make a real difference for your heart. And here’s something surprising: over 70% of the sodium we eat doesn’t come from the salt shaker. It comes from packaged, prepared, and restaurant foods. So even if you don’t think you eat a lot of salt, it might be sneaking in.
Don’t forget that salt (sodium) can be sneaky
Download Salt (Sodium) Can be Sneaky infographic (PDF)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window)
