Most Americans consume too much salt: CDC

Health experts at the CDC revealed on Thursday that people in the United States are consuming more than twice the recommended amount of salt.

The study by the Government agency estimates that the average U.S. adult consumes one-and-a-half teaspoons of salt or nearly 3,500 milligrams of sodium a day, which is half a teaspoon more than the basic daily recommendation of one teaspoon, or about 2,300 milligrams of sodium.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults in general should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, which is approximately one teaspoon of salt a day. But the government says the salt intake should be lowered to 1,500 milligrams per day for people vulnerable to high blood pressure or those suffering with this condition.

The CDC report shows that though 69.2 percent of U.S. adults, including people with high blood pressure, African Americans, and middle age and older adults, should take a lower-salt diet of no more than 1,500 mg per day, most consume 3,436 milligrams per day (according to a 2005-2006 CDC estimate).

"It's important for people to eat less salt. People who adopt a heart-healthy eating pattern that includes a diet low in sodium and rich in potassium and calcium can improve their blood pressure," Dr. Darwin Labarthe, director of the CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention., said in a statement.

"People need to know their recommended daily sodium limit and take action to reduce sodium intake," Labarthe further said.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a government survey that includes not only interviews and dietary surveys but medical tests of 8,000 survey participants done from 1999 through 2006.

It is believed that most of the sodium eaten by Americans comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods, such as tomato sauce, soup, condiments, canned foods, and prepared mixes.

CDC, the federal agency for protecting the health and safety of U.S. citizens, said it will join forces with other agencies in the Health and Human Services department to urge major food manufacturers and chain restaurants to cut sodium levels in the food supply.