World Salt Awareness Week

Hello all, I wanted to make it known that this week (March 21-27) is World Salt Awareness Week. Salt is hidden in lots of foods you may not expect to be salty, like tomato soup, frozen pizza, breads and dairy products. The average American eats over 5,000 mg of salt daily; the recommended amount of salt intake is less than 1,500 mg.

Take the time to read nutrition labels and pay attention to the sodium content. Many canned soups, frozen dinners, and sauce mixes can contain more than half of your daily recommended amount of salt. Try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are naturally low in sodium, or look for "low-sodium" versions of your favorite foods.

A diet with too much salt can cause hypertension which is also known as "the silent killer". Hypertension causes virtually no symptoms but exponentially increases your risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. The best way to be aware of your salt intake is to read nutrition labels, eat fresh rather than canned or frozen, and get your blood pressure checked regularly. A healthy blood pressure is below 120/80.

Check out these websites for further information!
http://www.cdc.gov/salt/
http://www.cdc.gov/salt/wsaw.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/vital_signs.htm