What should daily sodium intake be

We need to watch the salt we add at home, the salt added in restaurant meals and the salt added as part of the food manufacturing process. The biggest culprit to our high sodium intake is processed foods. For example, breads, processed meats, snack foods and canned goods all contain added sodium. We could list the sodium content of foods here and provide more data and numbers to see if that will inspire you to change your eating.

Looking for more individual advice? Reach out to a qualified Registered Dietitian who can assess your current eating pattern and provide customized guidance and support.

For more tips on healthy eating visit the Nourishing section of our Lifespan Living health and wellness blog. Is salt bad for you? Sodium in foods Where is all this sodium coming from?

How to reduce your sodium intake Four simple actions for a healthier, lower sodium eating pattern: Fill your plate and stomach with fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in sodium and contain potassium which may help reduce blood pressure and risk for other medical conditions.

Select herbs, spices and fresh lemon or lime juice to season your foods. Choosing sodium free seasonings provides plenty of flavor without the negative effects of salt. Sodium is an essential nutrient. Some of us, however, may be getting too much, and often we aren't even aware of where it's hiding in the foods we're eating. Learn why lowering your sodium intake may benefit your health.

The good news first: Salt has many uses. It raises the boiling point of water, tenderizes meats and enhances the flavor of many foods. The bad news is that table salt contains 2, milligrams of sodium per teaspoon. For most people and children 14 years and older, the recommendation is to limit sodium to less than 2, milligrams per day.

For those with existing blood pressure or other health concerns, the recommendation may be even lower. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans , children ages 1 through 3 are recommended to limit sodium intake to 1, milligrams per day; 1, milligrams per day for children ages 4 through 8; and 1, milligrams per day for ages 9 through It would be difficult to consume that much sodium in one concentrated bite. Keeping sodium in check is part of following an overall healthy eating pattern.

You can find the amount of sodium in your food by looking at the Nutrition Facts label. The amount of sodium per serving is listed in milligrams or mg. For example, this includes ingredients like sodium nitrate, sodium citrate, monosodium glutamate MSG or sodium benzoate.

Remember to take note of the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label. Sometimes a small adjustment can bring big results when it comes to your health! The body needs only a small amount of sodium less than milligrams per day to function properly. Very few people come close to eating less than that amount. Plus, healthy kidneys are great at retaining the sodium that your body needs.

The guideline to reduce to 1, mg may not apply to people who lose big amounts of sodium in sweat, like competitive athletes, and workers exposed to major heat stress, such as foundry workers and fire fighters, or to those directed otherwise by their healthcare provider. There is some evidence that it could be harmful to certain patients with congestive heart failure.