Do You Know Which 5 Foods Account for the Highest Sodium Intake?
5 FOODS ACCOUNT FOR 1/3 OF SODIUM INTAKE
A large analysis of the sodium content of foods purchased has found that five food categories taken together account for over a third of all sodium consumption. The study assessed 44, 372 food products purcha
sed by 21,108 UK households to determine the key sodium contributors.
Bacon, bread, milk, cheese and sauces account for a total 37 percent of sodium intake.
- Table salt & processed meats contribute 23 & 18 percent of sodium consumption, respectively.
- Bread and bakery products account for a significant 13 percent.
- Dairy products contribute 12 percent.
- Sauces and spreads alone represent 11 percent of sodium intake.
Researchers concluded that targeting sodium reduction in a small number of foods would lead to large decreases in the sodium available for consumption. This study, along with a chart of the sodium content of the main contributing foods, has been made available online at http://bit.ly/i0egpd by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, although the study will not appear in print until a future issue of the journal.
What’s Your Salt Intake?
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that only ten percent of American adults manage to keep their dietary sodium intake below the maximum recommended daily intake level. That grim statistic is even worse in light of the sharp recent reduction in the recommended intake level from 2,300 mg daily – which was the level set in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – to 1,500 mg, the maximum set in the 2010 version, which came out last week.
The new study was based on those former, much higher recommendations and adherence to the new guidelines would be even lower. Although found naturally in some foods, sodium is a key element in added salt. Excessive salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, which in turn is linked to increased risks for stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and kidney disease.
The new report was released June 25, 2010 and is available to read online at: http://bit.ly/aNqHYL.
Where’s All That Sodium Hiding?
Most dietary sodium comes from salt. But if you think hiding the salt shaker is going to make a big difference, think again.
According to a 1991 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, only about 10 percent of sodium intake comes from table salt and at-home cooking.
At least 77 percent of the dietary sodium intake in the United States comes from restaurant meals and processed foods. These are the areas you may want to target, not the salt shaken on your veggies at the dinner table.