How high is your salt intake daily? How can you improve salt intake to live healthier?

Have you ever thought about how much sodium you consume in the average day? Studies have shown time and time again that the average American consumes way too much sodium. No more than 2300 mg of sodium should be consumed a day. Why should you care? High salt intake is linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, and shorter life expectancy.

How have we managed to not realize how much salt we are actually taking in? Processed foods contain high levels of salt for taste and preservation of food. The first place to start is in your own pantry and at the grocery store. All food labels will tell you the exact sodium content per serving. I am including a picture of a Campbell Soup Can label as an example. Don't forget to multiply this sodium content by the number of servings you are actually eating.

Image Source:https://www.nutritionix.com/i/campbells/chunky-soup-creamy-chicken-dumplings/51d2f6c8cc9bff111580bd8f

If you are making a homemade meal, some websites and recipe books will also include nutrition facts for you. Let's think beyond your own kitchen for a second. How often do you eat out? Do you know the nutritional information for the food you are consuming?

https://www.nutritionix.com is a site that lets you look up the nutritional information for restaurants that you may frequent often.

For example, take a look at the nutritional information for an Applebee's menu item

Image source: https://www.nutritionix.com/i/applebees/bourbon-street-chicken-shrimp/23cb3134a63f566e7f1bd6c5

Notice how with just this one menu item you would be at almost your entire daily intake of sodium? Crazy! Next time you go grocery shopping, try to look for reduced sodium options or maybe making some changes in food choices. If you are going to be going out to eat, I recommend staying informed of the nutritional information for the places you frequent and what their healthier menu options are.

I recommend keeping track for one day of sodium intake to see how close you are to being within the approved sodium intake range. I hope this is a helpful in your life!