Did you know? These six popular foods can add high levels of sodium to your diet.
As part of a healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes the intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, lean vegetable or animal protein, and fish and minimizes the intake of trans fats, red meat and processed red meats, refined carbohydrates, and sugary drinks, the American Heart Association recommends 2,300 milligrams (mgs) or less a day of sodium.*
Daily suggested sodium referenced below is based on 2,300 mgs/day recommendation:
- Breads and Rolls: Some foods that you might eat throughout the day, such as bread, can add up to a lot of sodium even though each serving may not seem high in sodium.
- Pizza: A slice pepperoni pizza can contain almost a third of your daily recommended dietary sodium. Try swapping in veggies to your next slice.
- Sandwiches: A sandwich or burger from a fast food restaurant can contain more than 100 percent of your daily suggested dietary sodium. Try half a sandwich with a side salad instead.
- Cold Cuts and Cured Meats: One 2 oz. serving, or 6 thin slices, of deli meat can contain as much as a third of your daily recommended dietary sodium. Build a sandwich with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and bell peppers.
- Soup: Sodium in one cup of canned soup of the same variety can range from 49 to 830 milligrams – more than a third of your daily recommended intake. Check the labels to find lower sodium varieties.
- Burritos and Tacos: Taco toppings and burrito fillings can pack a big sodium punch. Choose burritos and tacos that are full of veggies and lean sources of protein.
Compare labels whenever possible and choose options with the lower amounts of added sugars, sodium and saturated fat and no trans fat and look out for the Heart-Check mark, a simple tool to help you eat smart. When you see it, you can be confident that a product aligns with the American Heart Association’s recommendations for an overall healthy eating pattern, including sodium.
*Also, remember serving size makes a difference. Eating double the serving size means you are eating double the sodium. 1,500 mg/d for those who are sensitive to sodium and /or at high risk for hypertension.
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