In a new report that will likely surprise no one, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 70 percent of packaged processed food sold in supermarkets exceeds recommended sodium limits.
Most Americans exceed the daily salt limits that have been set by federal nutrition experts, and processed foods are a primary source of sodium, the
Diabetes Insider reports.
“Americans consume an average of 3,500 milligrams of sodium each day (excluding salt added at the table),” according to the CDC.
But the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day.
About six in 10 adults — primarily those with high blood pressure and other health problems exacerbated by salt — should further limit sodium to 1,500 mg a day.
This high sodium can lead to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers, the agency noted.
The study shows more than 70 percent of many different types of boxed/frozen pizza, pasta with mixed dishes, and meat with mixed dishes, as well as 50-70 percent of cold cuts, soups, and sandwiches, far exceed the daily salt intake recommendation.
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