A tool to help limit patients’ sodium intake

The average American consumes about 3400 mg/d of sodium, which is more than double the 1500 mg recommended by the American Heart Association.¹ Excess sodium added to foods during commercial processing and preparation represents the main source of sodium intake in American diets.² Nevertheless, adding salt at the table is still very common, and people who add salt at the table have 1.5 g higher salt intakes than those who do not add salt.³ And as we know, high sodium intake has been associated with elevated blood pressure and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease.⁴