Americans Eat Too Much Salt, Says New Study

Americans Eat Too Much Salt, Says New Study – A study preformed in the United States has found that just over 9 in 10 Americans intake too much sodium (salt). This is causing heart attacks, raising blood pressure levels, and triggering underlying heart problems, which could be tough to identify until later life, times when it may be too late.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) based in Atlanta, Georgia found that the average intake of sodium for Americans is just under double what it should be, at just over 3400 milligrams per day. The ‘healthy’ intake is 2300 milligrams per day; however, middle ages and older adults, and people with high-blood pressures should only have 1500 milligrams per day. Experts have said that the sodium guidelines need to be reviewed because there is a risk that they are too low.


In even more concerning figures, only 5% of Americans fell under the 1500 milligrams a day limit, which is damaging to those who have high-blood pressure, who continue to ignore these guidelines; therefore, putting them into the high-risk category.
77% of Americans intake of salt comes from fatty, processed foods, or foods from fast food outlets and restaurants. The main concern is that Americans eat food with high-salt levels because some foods do not taste salty but do carry a large amount of sodium.
The consumers are not the only people to blame, many foods have increased their sodium levels in recent years, and this is making it harder to stay under these strict guidelines.

Filed Under: Diet & Fitness