6 in 10 Americans should lower salt intake

A new Centers for Disease and Control report found the average person eats almost double the amount of salt that's recommended.

10 foods make up 44 percent of the sodium most of us consume, that's why CDC officials say six out of 10 people should lower their daily salt intake.  Soups, breads, cheese and deli meats are all part of the top 10 list of foods with the highest sources of sodium.

“It's probably not going to change the way I eat because I'm pretty much aware of the sodium content elsewhere.  But I will look at breads certainly with an eye for the sodium,” said Jeffrey Beard of Greenfield. 

On Tuesday, the CDC released a report saying the average person eats 3,300 milligrams of salt, almost double the daily recommended intake.  And reducing how much salt we eat to no more than a teaspoon a day could save $20 billion in medical costs.

“It speaks to the level of processed foods that are in our diet.  And if Americans choose more whole, real foods then we are naturally going to reduce our sodium intake and be healthier,” said Lilly Lombard of Northampton.  But eating less salt starts with knowing your way around the kitchen.

At Serio's Market in Northampton the staff sells more than 10 gallons of soup a day but when it comes to making it, the market’s cook, Mike Turner, told 22News salt is never part of the recipe.

“I use garlic, granulated garlic, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, basil like those types of herbs. I don't like salts, I like flavors but I don't like salt because it's bad for you,” said Turner.  

More than 7,000 people were surveyed in the report; which also found only one in 10 Americans follow the one teaspoon of salt per day guideline.