CDC: 88% of Americans Consume Too Much Sodium

ATLANTAA new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health reveals 88% of the U.S. population consumes more than the recommended amount of salt per day, increasing their risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people aged 2 years and older should limit daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg. People in certain population groups, such as those who either have high blood pressure or who are at high risk of developing it, should aim for a sodium target of less than 1500 mg a day. Ninety-eight percent of the people in the highest risk groups, which include blacks, older adults (51+) and persons with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic disease, are not achieving that goal.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 19,000 participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2008) and found that 98.6% of Americans who should reduce their daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg, and 88.2% of those who should reduce their intake to less than 2,300 mg per day, consume more than those amounts.

The report noted about 75% of the sodium in the typical American diet is added to commercial foods during processing or during preparation of restaurant foods; about 25% occurs naturally or is added at the table or in cooking by the consumer.

The researchers concluded new population-based strategies and increased public health efforts will be required to meet the sodium targets in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.