The 20 saltiest foods in America

The 20 saltiest foods in America

Avoid these foods if you care about heart health, blood pressure and stroke
• Intro
• 20: Saltiest Side Dish
• 19: Saltiest Dessert
• 18: Saltiest Soup
• 17: Saltiest Burger
• 16: Saltiest "Healthy" Food
• 15: Saltiest Pasta
• 14: Saltiest Chinese Entrée
• 13: Saltiest Breakfast
• 12: Saltiest Beef Entrée
• 11: Saltiest Frozen Dinner
• 10: Saltiest Bread
• 9: Saltiest Sandwich
• 8: Saltiest Pizza
• 7: Saltiest Comfort Food
• 6: Saltiest Salad
• 5: Saltiest Mexican Entrée
• 4: Saltiest Kids' Meal
• 3: Saltiest Seafood Entrée
• 2: Saltiest Appetizer
• 1: The Saltiest Dish in America

Intro
By Lauren Murrow, Men’s Health magazine
Salty food may seem like the least of your worries, especially if you're among the 40 percent of people who mindlessly shake salt on every dish. An extra dash here, a few sprinkles there--what's the big deal?

A lot, when you consider the fact that a mere teaspoon of the stuff contains all 2,300 milligrams (mg) of your recommended daily allotment. Yet daily salt consumption is on the rise in the United States--from 2,300 mg in the 1970s to more than 3,300 mg today. And according to Monell Chemical Senses Center researchers, 77 percent of that sodium intake comes from processed-food purveyors and restaurants. Their motivation: Pile on the salt so we don't miss natural flavors and fresh ingredients.

Why is that a problem? With ever-expanding portion sizes, supersalty foods are displacing fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in potassium. And a 1:2 ratio of dietary salt to potassium is critical for your health. Studies show that a high-sodium, low-potassium diet is linked to a host of maladies, including high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, and exercise-induced asthma.

To protect your heart, your bones, your muscles, and your tastebuds, we scoured takeout menus and supermarket shelves to expose the 20 saltiest foods in America. No need to take the information with a grain of salt. These dishes provide plenty.