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On average, our sodium intake is more than twice the recommended upper limit, with Americans consuming an estimated 3400 mg of sodium daily.  And it doesn’t really matter if you don’t touch the salt shaker – only about 10% of the sodium in our diet is from salt that we add at the table!

 

So today we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on 4 easy ways to slash 100’s – if not 1,000’s of milligrams of sodium from our diet.

 

  • The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend an upper limit of 2,300 milligrams daily, and not more than 1,500 mg for those at risk for hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease.
  • On average, we consume 3400+ mg sodium/day
  • Approximately 10% of the sodium in our diet is from the salt shaker
  • More than 75% is from processed foods and restaurant/food service foods
  • A frame of reference: One teaspoon salt = 2300 mg sodium

 

 

  1. Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix (1626 mg per 8 oz) to Louisiana Sisters Bloody Mary Mix (533 mg/8 oz) => 67% less sodium

 

  1. Switch from Louisiana Hot Sauce (200 mg/teaspoon) to Tabasco (35 mg/teaspoon) => 83% less sodium

 

  1. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning (350 mg per ¼ teaspoon) to Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blend (90 mg per ¼ teaspoon) => 74% less sodium

 

  1. Regular Pasta Sauce (470+ mg per half cup) to Sal & Judy’s Heart Smart Italian Sauce (250 mg) => 47% less sodium

 

  1. Feta Cheese (330 mg/ounce) to Goat cheese (144 mg/ounce) => 56% less sodium

Even better: Swiss cheese (65 mg/ounce) => 80% less sodium