Community Corner

How Much Salt You Shakin'?

The average L.A. County resident consumes more than double the recommended daily amount of sodium, officials say. Here are tips to monitor your intake.

From ordering that side of french fries to buttered popcorn at the movies, Los Angeles County health officials report that the average resident consumes more than double the recommended daily amount of sodium.

Current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that adults in general should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

And older adults, African-Americans, and people with high blood pressure should intake no more than 1,500 milligrams. What does that look like?

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One big mac at , according to the McDonald's nutrition information online, contains about 1,040 milligrams of sodium. Add an order of large fries (350 milligrams) and milkshake (370 milligrams) then that one meal contains 1,760 milligrams total.

Don't get this wrong—the human body needs sodium in order to perform a variety of essential functions, according to the National Institutes of Health, such as maintain blood volume and pressure.

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But a study of Americans by the nonprofit International Food Information Council Foundation, released Sept. 27, found that the majority are unaware whether they are intaking too much sodium in their everyday diets, which could lead to negative side effects, such as high blood pressure.

"Because there are a variety of factors and approaches that go into building a healthful diet, it’s not surprising that limiting sodium is trumped by other dietary factors," said Marianne Smith Edge, the group's senior vice president of nutrition and food safety, in a statement following the release of the study. "It is clear Americans understand positive messages that involve foods versus just nutrients—like eat more fruits and vegetables—as a good way to consume less sodium and more potassium."

And the county has suggested these additional tips to ensure a healthy diet:

  • Eat more fresh foods and fewer processed foods, which often contain more salt in them than needed.
  • Choose low-sodium and no-salt added varieties of snacks, such as popcorn.
  • Remove salt from recipes whenever possible.
  • Limit use of sodium-heavy condiments, such as ketchup.
  • Use herbs, spices and other flavorings to enhance foods in place of salt.


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