Bread beats out chips as biggest source of salt

[SoCalDem]

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2012-02-07/CDC-Bread-beats-out-chips-as-biggest-salt-source/52999844/1

ATLANTA – Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as salty junk food like potato chips. Most of the sodium comes from common restaurant or grocery store items. Some foods that are consumed several times a day, such as bread, add up to a lot of sodium even though each serving is not high in sodium.That surprising finding comes in a government report released Tuesday that includes a list of the top 10 sources of sodium. Salty snacks actually came in at the bottom of the list compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn — which we think of as the saltiest foods in our diet — are only No. 10," said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden.

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Salt is the main source of sodium for most people, and sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease and stroke. Health officials say most Americans get too much salt, mostly from processed and restaurant foods — not added from the salt shaker. Experts have known that the sodium in breads and certain other foods can add up, but even CDC officials were amazed that just 10 foods are responsible for 44 percent of the sodium consumed.

"It's possible to eat a whole bunch of sodium without it seeming salty," noted John Hayes, an assistant professor of food science at Penn State, who was not involved in the report. According to the CDC, breads and rolls account for about 7 percent of the salt that the average American eats in a day. Next on the list: cold cuts and cured meats; pizza; fresh and processed poultry; soups; fast-food hamburgers and sandwiches and cheese. Rounding out the list — and accounting for about 3 percent each — are spaghetti and other pasta dishes; meatloaf and other meat dishes and snacks like potato chips and pretzels.

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[Justice wanted]

1. Talk about surprising.

[Syrinx]

2. "It's possible to eat a whole bunch of sodium without it seeming salty,"

That is exactly what I was saying to my friend a few weeks ago. I was gently chastising him about some chili mix or some such thing he was using that was god-awfully laden with sodium. I told him that I actually like the salty taste, and I feel kind of cheated when I'm swallowing a ton of sodium, without actually tasting any salt. He seemed to think I was loopy.

[SoCalDem]

3. Canned soup is HORRID..

Of course I do not cook with salt, so most things taste salty to me

[Syrinx]

4. I've been trying to cut back on salt

But doesn't the body need a little bit to work correctly? I thought I read that once. Then again, I've read many things, and most of them were probably wrong.

[SoCalDem]

5. We have salt on the table and season to taste

but as far as cooking it into the food, I do not use salt

[Skittles]

6. as long as you're not seasoning to taste before actually tasting!

[SoCalDem]

7. I actually prefer pepper to salt..

[Javaman]

9. my sister in law does that...

even before she takes a bite, she salts her food.

not only do I find that completely insulting to whom ever made the food, I also find her over use of salt really distressing.

She salts everything to extreme. If she could find a way to salt salt, she would.

[Skittles]

10. I see it all the time!

when I point it out to people, they very often don't realize they do it. But yo SIL sounds like a saline junkie!!!

[Syrinx]

11. I don't know if she still does it, but when we were kids...

My cousin salted cheddar cheese. She would eat a slice of cheddar cheese as a snack, and douse it with salt. I never really understood that.

[sunwyn]

8. Wow...I make my bread homemade and a 2 one pound loaves have a tablespoon between them

[woolldog]

12. I don't get how spaghetti and other pasta

make the list? Is that because people add salt to those foods or are they inherently salty???

[SoCalDem]

13. I think they meant the dinner product with sauce & meatballs

The sauces (especially prepared ones) are super salty

[TheManInTheMac]

14. Yes, but try eating bread that isn't made with salt.

It's a good motivator for a low-carb diet. Certain brands of paper taste better. I thought the salt hysteria had run its course, anyway.