Monday, April 9, 2012

Sodium

 
According to a study released in 2010 by Stanford University, less than a 10 percent reduction in sodium in a person’s diet could help many Americans avoid heart attacks and fatal strokes.

This April, Maine CDC’s Cardiovascular Health Program began a campaign to raise awareness of foods that are high in sodium and the importance of monitoring how much to reduce sodium consumption.

According to a study done by US CDC, the average American adult eats about 3,300 milligrams of sodium each day. That is at least 1,000 milligrams more than people should be eating. Most sodium is found in packaged, processed and restaurant foods.

The foods that are the biggest sources of sodium may be surprising. According to US CDC, bread and rolls are the top sources of sodium in the American diet, followed by cold cuts, pizza, poultry, and soups. 

More information on sodium and how to reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke is available at http://www.mainehearthealth.org/