Hold the salt?

FM Staff

Salt is known for preserving foods and enhancing taste. The human body requires sodium for the regulation of fluid balance. However, Americans are increasingly consuming too much of it, say experts.

The biggest reason? Most point to the large amounts of salt and other sodium containing ingredients in processed food.

Government guidelines recommend less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day— about one teaspoon of salt. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists typical sodium content for more than 7,000 foods.

Some examples of high sodium foods from the USDA List:

The USDA suggests that those who continually eat more than 100 percent of the daily value for sodium each day, consider a lower sodium alternative.Try to select foods that provide 5 percent or less per serving.

For more information, visit the What's in Food link at www.nutrition.gov