Surprising News About Where Your Salt Comes From

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have some surprising news about our top ten sources of salt. No, most of the salt we eat does not come from salty snacks like potato chips. That’s actually number ten on the source of salt list. Number one is something that Americans eat a great deal of: bread and rolls. Reporting on the CDC research, Time magazine warns that the average American’s daily sodium intake is 3,266 mg a day, far greater than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 mg. The nearly 90 percent of Americans who eat too much salt are at greater risk of developing hypertension, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The researchers also found that most of the salt we eat –75 percent–comes from food eaten in restaurants or prepared for take-out. So what exactly are Americans’ biggest sources of salt? Here are the top ten:

1. Bread and rolls, 7.4 percent
2. Cold cuts/cured meats, 5.1 percent
3. Pizza, 4.9 percent
4. Fresh and processed poultry, 4.5 percent
5. Soups, 4.3 percent
6. Sandwiches like cheeseburgers, 4 percent
7. Cheese, 3.8 percent
8. Pasta dishes like spaghetti with meat sauce, 3.3 percent
9. Meat dishes like meatloaf with tomato sauce, 3.2 percent
10. Snacks, including chips, pretzels, popcorn and puffs, 3.1 percent