Articles
Sodium: How to tame your salt habit
Sodium: How much do you need?
Sodium: Essential in small amounts
Sodium: How much is too much?
Sodium: What are the major dietary sources?
Tips for cutting back on sodium
Sodium: Be a savvy shopper
Know the label lingo
Content
What happens to sodium in the body?
How much sodium is too much?
What foods have sodium?
How do I cut back on sodium?
Check the label
Learn the lingo
Use salt substitutes wisely
Go low and take it slow
Content
If you're like most people in the U.S., you're getting far more sodium than is recommended. And that could lead to serious health problems.
Consider that 1 teaspoon of table salt, which is a combination of sodium and chloride, has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium. That's slightly more than the daily limit of 2,300 mg recommended by health experts.
The average American gets closer to 3,400 mg of sodium a day. See where all that sodium comes from and learn how you can cut back.