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Nearly all Americans eat too much salt (sodium). Most of the salt comes from eating processed foods (75%), or adding salt to food while cooking and using the salt shaker at meals (5% to 10%). On average, the more salt a person eats, the higher his or her blood pressure. Eating less salt is an important way to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, which may in turn reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney damage. To reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, eat less processed food and use less salt while cooking and at the table.
Other lifestyle changes may prevent or delay getting high blood pressure and may help lower elevated blood pressure. These include eating more potassium-rich foods, losing excess weight, being more physically active, and eating a healthy diet. If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.
Did you know that sodium and potassium both impact blood pressure? A diet rich in potassium helps to counterbalance some of sodium's harmful effects on blood pressure.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Older adults should aim for no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium
each day.
This is about 3/4 teaspoon of salt. You should also try to get 4,700
milligrams of potassium each day.
Here are some tips for eating less salt and more potassium:
Food | Amount | Range of Sodium Content (mg) | % Daily |
---|---|---|---|
Breads, all types | 1 ounce | 95 - 210 | 4% - 9% |
Frozen pizza, plain cheese | 4 ounces | 450 - 1,200 | 19% - 50% |
Frozen vegetables, all types | 1/2 cup | 2 - 160 | 0% - 7% |
Salad dressing, regular fat, all types | 2 Tablespoons | 110 - 505 | 5% - 21% |
Salsa | 2 Tablespoons | 150 - 240 | 6% - 10% |
Soup (tomato), reconstituted | 8 ounces | 700 - 1,260 | 29% - 53% |
Tomato juice | 8 ounces (~1 cup) | 340 - 1,040 | 14% - 43% |
Potato chipsa | 1 ounce (28.4 grams) | 120 - 180 | 5% - 8% |
Tortilla chipsa | 1 ounce (28.4 gram) | 105 - 160 | 4% - 7% |
Pretzelsa | 1 ounce (28.4 grams) | 290 - 560 | 12% - 23% |
* % Daily Values
(DV) listed in this column are based on the food amounts listed
in the table. The DV for sodium is 2,400 mg. aAll snack foods are regular flavor, salted. Source: Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 17 and recent manufacturers' label data from retail market surveys. Serving sizes were standardized to be comparable among brands within a food. Pizza and bread slices vary in size and weight across brands. Note: None of the examples provided were labeled low-sodium products. |
Food, Amount | Potassium (milligrams) | % Daily Value* | Calories |
---|---|---|---|
Sweet potato, baked, 1 potato (146 grams) | 694 | 20% | 131 |
Beet greens, cooked, 1/2 cup | 655 | 19% | 19 |
Potato, baked, flesh, 1 potato (156 grams) | 610 | 17% | 145 |
White beans, canned, 1/2 cup | 595 | 17% | 153 |
Yogurt, plain, non-fat, 8-ounce container | 579 | 17% | 127 |
Prune juice, 1/2 cup | 530 | 15% | 136 |
Tuna, yellowfin, cooked, 3 ounces | 484 | 14% | 118 |
Lima beans, cooked, 1/2 cup | 484 | 14% | 104 |
Winter squash, cooked, 1/2 cup | 448 | 13% | 40 |
Cod, Pacific, cooked, 3 ounces | 439 | 13% | 89 |
Banana, 1 medium | 422 | 12% | 105 |
Spinach, cooked, 1/2 cup | 419 | 12% | 21 |
Tomato juice, 3/4 cup | 417 | 12% | 31 |
Orange juice, canned, 3/4 cup | 436 | 12% | 105 |
Sample Nutrition Facts Label Content Below
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size, 1 cup (228 grams)
Servings Per Container, 2
Amount Per Serving:
Calories, 250
Calories from Fat, 110
Total Fat, 12 grams (18% Daily Value*)
Saturated Fat, 3 grams(15% Daily Value)
Trans Fat, 3 grams
Cholesterol, 30 milligrams (10% Daily Value)
Sodium 470 milligrams (20% Daily Value)
Potassium 700 milligrams (20% Daily Value)
Total Carbohydrate, 31 grams (10% Daily Value)
Dietary Fiber, 0 grams (0% Daily Value)
Sugars, 5 grams
Protein, 5 grams
Vitamin A (4% Daily Value)
Vitamin C (2% Daily Value)
Calcium (20% Daily Value)
Iron (4% Daily Value)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie
needs.
Calories: 2,000
Total fat, Less than 65 grams
Saturated fat, Less than 20 grams
Cholesterol, Less than 300 milligrams
Sodium, Less than 2,400 milligrams
Total Carbohydrate, 300 grams
Dietary Fiber, 25 grams