"Salty six" foods a major source of sodium, says American Heart Association

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Beware of the "salty six," warns the American Heart Association (AHA).

The "salty" six consist of common foods in Americans' diets that are packed with excess sodium, the AHA says, and the list of top culprits doesn't even include snack foods like chips.

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"Excess sodium in our diets has less to do with what we're adding to our food and more to do with what's already in the food," Dr. Linda Van Horn, a research nutritionist at Northwestern University who volunteers at the AHA, said in a press release. "The average individual is getting more than double the amount of sodium that they need, but there are ways to improve their sodium intake under their control."

Sodium overkill: Top 10 culprits in U.S. diet

U.S. dietary guidelines recommend people should take in no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day, while the AHA recommends an even lower amount, 1,500 milligrams. A recent survey from the association however found most Americans are averaging 3,400 milligrams each day, mostly from processed and restaurant foods.

That could potentially raise blood pressure, thus increasing risk for stroke and heart disease, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What six common foods are major sources of salt in our diets? Keep clicking to find out the "salty six."

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[frankothemountain]

Heads up there dummies. Your salt was replaced with a replica in the 1950s. The fake salt is the problem. Real salt is good for you. But you dummies won't read a little and figure it out, so I'm wasting my breath, whatever.

[AnthonyBrwn]

Are you following diet? Then check out some shocking facts about diet - http://www.rosebudmag.com/truth-squad/health-effects-of-high-fructose-corn-syup

[j1shalack]

Is there a reason this article is split so much that I need to click seven pages? It would be much easier to read by just scrolling down than needing to click after reading just a few lines..

[Jame-_V]

because CBS has to make advertising money some how, its way easier to get you to view 7 ads than 7x as many adds

[foo8259]

It's all about the advertising ... no need to click. I already know what they are.

[guest173]

Only one restaurant has an American Heart Association seal of approval for their foods, and that is Subway for a certain few sandwiches. Most people's lifestyles nowadays with working mothers and lots of activities to do means that people just eat out a lot. When you go to school and college, you don't have time to cook or even learn to cook. Restaurants and fast food places need to tone down the horrible tasty things that kill us fast and try to be more healthy. Dead customers aren't paying customers.

[Nate650]

Unfortunately the AHA approval of Subway is baloney. Take a look at the ingredients used in Subway's "Sourdough Bread":

Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, naiacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, sugar, wheat gluten, contains 2% or less of :soybean oil, salt, dextrose, fumaric acid, sodium stearoyl lactylate (dough conditionaer), DATEM, sodium diacetate, calcium sulfate, lactic acid, ammonium sulfate, ascorbic acid, enzymes, potassium iodated, azodicarbonamide, wheat starch, dextrin.

This is not real bread. It's a product of the industrial food system. Real sourdough bread should only contain a few ingredients. The good news is that last time I checked all of Subway's bread contained high fructose corn syrup, so it looks like they have decided to switch to standard sugar.

I used to think Subway was healthy until I studied the ingredients. The bottom line is it is still a highly processed food.

[Nate650]

By the way here is the full list of Subway's ingredients if anyone is interested:

http://www.subway.com/Nutrition/Files/usProdIngredients.pdf

[Nate650]

Compared to the junk in processed food like artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, high fructose corn syrup, trans fat, and refined vegetable oils, salt is nothing to worry about. However, as with any food, quality varies. A quality wet sea salt which retains vitamins and minerals such as the Celtic brand is a better choice than typical iodized table salt. No, I have no affiliation with the Celtic brand.

[nz_testing]

I'd take the fat over the artificial/processed stuff and sugar. I avoid processed food in general, especially ones with low fat, low sugar, etc. on the label (those tend to be the most processed) and try to eat primary a whole food diet. Typically low fat products contain higher levels of sugar and lower sugar products contain higher levels of processed ingredients. The most annoying offender is "sugar free" labels for products with contain artificial sweeteners which is very deceiving.

[JRTomlin]

Exactly. This demonizing of salt is nonsense. It is much like the demonizing of fat which has done huge HARM to American health.

[chris_westland]

Ahh ... you've got to love the AHA ... salt is the 'usual suspect' ... and of course diabetes couldn't possibly affect your heart. Eat all the sugar you like

[the_egret]

We begin to die at the moment we are born, a fact many people choose to ignore all their lives. These clowns say don't eat bread, soup, sandwiches or meat.
That's just plain stupid. Remember eggs are bad for you/no they're not, wine is bad for you/oh no it isn't after all, coffee is bad for you/good for you/bad for you.

Here's my common-sense tip: give up reading this junk.

[nonpolitico]

Right on Egret!
We are told what to do far far too much these days.
When I was a kid, in the 1940s we ate what was on the plate, every night may have seen a similar meal, but Mom made out, bread, cakes and blueberry pie.
Now, this might be a tad controversial, but I will risk it and say it is all the fault of the Sisterhood, and the `Crats.
My mom worked hard, but also worked hard in the home.
She came home...we got fed.
She had some variety, but food was different then, and no-one noticed. WE just ATE what was on the plate.
The Sisterhood, in their rush for rights, have neglected for years their children (Not all of them of course, but the `Crats didn`t help).
Remember school? where you were taught stuff like math and physics, but you KNEW how to eat??
Today Programs inform you of "bad" foods and "Good" foods.
Media fills hours with Dime a Dozen "Experts" on that or this, all given uncritical airtime!
They tell you what to eat, how not to smoke, not drink alcohol (Dammit if we are in for another 4 years of the Dimwitcrats, I reckon I`ll buy in some smokes a few bottles and plemty ammo for my .38!!!! If you`re worried by what the experts say, just sit in the armchair, unscrew the Jack Daniels and relax with a well filled glass of JD to take the strain!!
But don`t WORRY!!!
When it stops rainin` in Winter, the Crats will get things right.
God bless you all and God Bless the United States of America!

[CarsonCitySteve]

I.Do.What.My.Government.Says.No.Salt.O.Kay.

[marine1957]

Yah, I tried their advice on drinking 6 glasses of water per day. I quit when I kept pee'ing my pants...

[jmerring]

Whilr I am happy for the conern of the govenment; I have learned that there is NO FOOD or DRINK That is safe for us. We might just as well become vegearians/vegans. f course there are natural slts in them, to.I know: let's stave ourselves out of existane.

LEVE US ALONE!