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Editorial
CDC: Sodium comes from surprising source
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Nine out of 10 of us consume more sodium than we should, that's no surprise.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of us take in about 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, about twice the recommenced 1,500 milligrams per day for people 51 and older, before we even reach for the salt shaker.
But how do we eat the most of it?
Potato chips, pretzels and popcorn?
Well, yes, but that's not the worst food you can eat.
Poultry? Pizza? Bologna?
You're getting warmer.
Although each serving may actually be relatively low in sodium, bread and rolls contain enough sodium, and we consume them so many times each day, that they are our main source of sodium.
In order, the 10 types of foods that are responsible for more than 40 percent of people's sodium intake include:
* breads and rolls
* luncheon meat such as deli ham or turkey
* pizza
* poultry
* soups
* cheeseburgers and other sandwiches
* cheese
* pasta dishes
* meat dishes such as meat loaf
* snacks like potato chips, pretzels, popcorn
The problem with many of those foods -- they are prepared by manufacturers -- can also be part of the solution.
According to the CDC, reducing the sodium content of the 10 leading sodium sources by 25 percent would lower total dietary sodium by more than 10 percent, and could play a role in preventing up to about 28,000 deaths per year.
The food industry is already responding, according to CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, including Kraft Foods, which is committing to an average 10 percent reduction in its products over a two-year period, and dozens of other companies that have joined a national initiative.
Leprino Foods, a leading supplier of cheese for pizza, is working on healthier options, Frieden said, adding that he is confident more manufacturers will do the same.
Of course, it's easier to avoid sodium and other unwanted additives if you prepare your own food, eat a diet rich in fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, without sauce, and if you do eat prepared food, check the labels carefully.