The words “table salt” and “sodium” are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. So, use the Nutrition Facts label to compare products, and don’t forget to check the serving size in order to make an accurate comparison. chips, crackers, popcorn)īut remember, the sodium content can vary significantly between similar types of foods. Check the serving size and the number of servings you eat or drink to determine how much sodium you are consuming.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40% of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from the following foods: The nutrition information listed on the Nutrition Facts label is usually based on one serving of the food. Use %DV to determine if a serving of the food is high or low in sodium and to compare and choose foods to get less than 100% DV of sodium each day.Īs a general guide: 5% DV or less of sodium per serving is considered low, and 20% DV or more of sodium per serving is considered high. The %DV is the percentage of the Daily Value for each nutrient in a serving of the food and shows how much of a nutrient contributes to a total daily diet. The Daily Value for sodium is less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day. The Daily Values are reference amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day. Use the Nutrition Facts label as your tool to make informed decisions! Even though sodium may already be in many packaged foods when you purchase them, you can lower your daily sodium intake by using the Nutrition Facts label. Food and Drug Administration is working with the food industry to make reasonable reductions in sodium across a wide variety of foods. The food supply contains too much sodium and Americans who want to consume less sodium can have a difficult time doing so. Diets higher in sodium are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which is a major cause of stroke and heart disease.ĭespite what many people think, most dietary sodium (over 70%) comes from eating packaged and prepared foods-not from table salt added to food when cooking or eating.

Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium can be bad for your health. You’ve probably heard that most Americans eat too much sodium.

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