Health: Bread Is Number One Source Of Sodium In Americans
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A salt shocker! Americans consume too much sodium, and a new government report lists the saltiest foods—with some surprises.
The report, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says 40 percent of our salt consumption comes from just ten foods.
At the top of the list? Not chips, not even canned soup.
In fact, bread and rolls are the number one source of salt in the American diet, according to the new federal health report. It says that bread products have more than twice as much sodium as snacks like chips and pretzels.
Cold cuts are number two on the list. If you have a seemingly healthy turkey sandwich for lunch, it could actually have over 1,500 milligrams of sodium--close to what you should have for the whole day.
"We're looking at a recommendation of less than 2300, 2400 milligrams per day. And this report shows the average consumption is well over 3,000 milligrams a day," said Dr. Steven Rothman, Chief of Cardiovascular Diseases at Lankenau Medical Center.
He also said sodium causes fluid retention and high blood pressure.
"High blood pressure leads to coronary disease, leads to stroke," said Dr. Rothman, who added that processed items and restaurant foods are generally the main culprits for our salt overload.
Pizza is third on the sodium list. And number four is chicken from the grocery store, because many brands are injected with a salt solution to improve taste and moisture.
"It's just everywhere," said Dr. Rothman.
The top ten new sodium list also includes cheese, soups, and pasta. Experts recommend looking for items that say low sodium, and eating fresh produce without sauce.
For more on the sodium report, click here.
For sodium information, click here.
