The majority of U.S. adults consume more than double the CDC recommended amount of maximum sodium. Excessive sodium, usually consumed in the form of hidden salt in food, contributes to health problems such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Unfortunately, the solution to reducing sodium intake is not as simple as removing the salt shaker from the table. Nearly 80 percent of the daily sodium consumed by the average American is hidden in restaurant and processed foods, and once salt is in the food, it can’t be taken out!

Below are a few tips to help the individual make healthier food choices with lower salt content:

• Know what you’re eating. Read nutritional labels on packaged foods, or ask the restaurant for its nutrition facts to be sure you stay within the dietary recommendations for sodium.
• Eat In. As the majority of sodium we consume is in processed and restaurant foods, try cooking at home from scratch, or bring a healthy, low calorie lunch to work instead of eating out.
• Find the Flavor. When cooking meals at home, flavor foods with herbs, spices, and other low-fat seasonings instead of salt.

As a community, we can strive to make healthy food easily accessible and affordable. This requires a change in mindset and environment. What is your community doing to encourage a healthy diet and lifestyle for its residents?

Want to know more?
Salt in the American Diet: http://www.cdc.gov/salt/
Salt Matters: Preserving Choice, Protecting Health: http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/Salt_Matters/
Nutrition for Everyone: http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/index.html
Healthy Food Environments: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/healthtopics/healthyfood_environme...