Sea Salt (© Photographer: Nadya Markova | Agency: Dreamstime.com)

An astonishing 90 percent of American adults consume an unhealthy amount of salt each day, causing widespread high blood pressure and placing millions at risk of heart attack and stroke. But only 11 percent of the sodium in Americans’ diets comes from their own saltshakers; nearly 80 percent is added to foods before they are sold.

Most Sodium Comes from Commonly Eaten Foods

According to a new report, "Sodium Intake in Adults – United States, 2005-2006," published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, less than 10 percent of U.S. adults limit their daily sodium intake to recommended levels. The report also finds that most sodium in the American diet comes from processed grains such as pizza and cookies, and meats, including poultry and luncheon meats.

The new report says U.S. adults consume an average of 3,466 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, more than twice the current recommended limit for most Americans. Grains provide 36.9 percent of this total, followed by dishes containing meat, poultry, and fish (27.9 percent). These two categories combined account for almost two-thirds of the daily sodium intake for Americans.

Pervasiveness of Sodium Makes Limiting Intake Difficult

An estimated 77 percent of dietary sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods. Many of these foods, such as breads and cookies, may not even taste salty.

"Sodium has become so pervasive in our food supply that it's difficult for the vast majority of Americans to stay within recommended limits," said Janelle Peralez Gunn, public health analyst with CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and lead author of the report. "Public health professionals, together with food manufacturers, retailers and health care providers, must take action now to help support people's efforts to reduce their sodium consumption."

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that people consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Specific groups, including persons with high blood pressure, all middle-aged and older adults and all blacks, should limit intake to 1500 mg per day. These specific groups comprise nearly 70 percent of the U.S. adult population.

This study found that only 9.6 percent of all participants met their applicable dietary recommendation, including 5.5 percent of the group limited to 1,500 mg per day and 18.8 percent of the 2,300 mg per day group.

Reduce Salt to Prevent Heart Disease & Stroke

The findings add to a growing body of observational research studies on Americans' excessive sodium consumption. Over-consumption of sodium can have negative health effects, including increasing average levels of blood pressure. One in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and an estimated 90 percent of U.S. adults will develop the disease in their lifetime. Blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death among adults in the United States.

The National Salt Reduction Initiative

The National Salt Reduction Initiative is a New York City-led partnership of cities, states and national health organizations. It has set specific targets to help companies reduce the salt levels in 61 categories of packaged food and 25 classes of restaurant food. Some popular products already meet these targets, a clear indication that food companies can substantially lower sodium levels while still offering foods that consumers enjoy. Some major food companies are alreaqdy quietly reducing the sodium in their products.

To get more information on the National Salt Reduction Initiative, go to: N.Y.C Department of Health

For more information about sodium and blood pressure, go to: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

To view previous posts on the topic go to:

1. Canadian Dieticians Push for Less Sodium in Food

2. Cutting the Salt in Food Doesn't Increase Spoilage

3. Too Much Salt!

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