According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Americans are consuming far more salt than the recommended daily amount. “Consuming too much sodium can lead to heart disease and stroke, which are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of both men and women in the United States every year.”

Here are a few tips from the CDC on how to cut your sodium intake:

Know your daily sodium limit.  Federal dietary guidelines say adults should eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day (about one teaspoon of salt).  However, if you’re in one of the three previously mentioned higher risk groups, you should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams a day.

Choose fruit and vegetables instead of processes foods.  Seventy-seven percent of the sodium that we consume comes from processed and restaurant foods.

Read nutrition labels carefully.  Add up the milligrams of sodium in everything you eat to make sure you’re staying with your daily limit.

Eat smart when dining out.  Before ordering, ask about low-sodium offerings, or ask to see nutritional information, including sodium content.

Related posts:

1. Nutritional Labels – The Secret to Understanding Them
2. Natural Foods: You are What You Eat
3. The Benefits of Pure Salt
4. Eating Fiber Reduces Cardiovascular Disease
5. Safe Handling of Produce