Healthy Choices – Good for You!

Hypertension and Sodium

 Sodium, a mineral which occurs naturally in foods is essential for health. The main source of sodium in our diet is salt, known as sodium chloride. Too much sodium in the diet may contribute to high blood pressure, also known as Hypertension.  About 60% of all Americans 60 years or older have high blood pressure.   For those without high blood pressure, experts recommend 2,400 mg of sodium or less per day, which is approximately 1 teaspoon.  The average adult consumes about 3,200 mg. of sodium daily. The majority of the sodium, 77% comes from eating processed foods.

Use the Food Label to Make Smart Choices!

Check the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label.  It might be different from the amount you usually eat.

• if 1 serving contains 5% or less of the Daily Value (DV) for sodium, that's low

• If 1 serving contains 20% or more DV, that's high

                                  AIM FOR LOW!!

Use the labels on packaging to help you understand the amount of sodium in the product. 

          Sodium-free or salt-free – Less than 5 mg of sodium per
           serving

          Very-low sodium – 35 mg. or less of sodium per serving

          Low-sodium – 140 mg or less of sodium per serving

         Reduced or less sodium – 25% less sodium than the original
          version of the product

         Light in sodium – 50% less sodium than the original version

         No added salt or unsalted –  No salt added during processing

From: The Sodium Story.  American Dietetic Association.  Revised edition 2002.