The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommends 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day for healthy adults. Here’s a quick look at the AHA/ASA’s Salty Six, the top sources for sodium in today’s diet. The results may surprise you:
Bread and rolls. Though most bread doesn’t taste salty, one piece can have as much as 230 milligrams of sodium. That’s about 15 percent of the recommended amount from only one slice, and it adds up quickly.
Cold cuts and cured meats. While turkey is considered healthy, deli or pre-packaged turkey can contain as much as 1,050 milligrams of sodium added to help preserve the meat.
Pizza. Yes, pizza is generally considered a high fat, high-calorie food. It’s also plenty salty. One slice can contain up to 760 milligrams of sodium, so two slices can send you over the daily recommendation.
Poultry. Surely chicken can’t be bad for you, right? Depending on how it is prepared, sodium levels in poultry can vary. Frozen chicken may contain an added sodium solution that you should be aware of when considering your daily sodium intake.
Soup. Canned soup is convenient and soothing when you have a cold, but can turn into sodium overload. Just one cup of canned chicken noodle soup can have up to 940 milligrams of sodium.
Sandwiches. Combine “salty six” breads and cured/deli meats with sodium-laden condiments like ketchup, pickles or mustard and you can easily surpass 1,500 milligrams of sodium in one sitting.
