About 77% of the sodium we consume comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods. The rest of the sodium in our diets occurs naturally in food (about 12 percent), or is added by us when we’re cooking food or sitting down to eat.  The latter only makes up about 10 percent of our total sodium intake, so even if you never use the salt shaker, you’re probably getting too much sodium.  Because most of the sodium we eat is in our food before we buy it, it makes it hard for people to limit how much sodium they are eating. 

The American Heart Association recommends that Americans eat less than 1,500 mg/day of sodium as part of the definition of idea cardiovascular health. 

Watch out for the "salty six"--surprising foods that contribute the most sodium to our diets:

1. Breads and Rolls--one piece can have as much as 230 mg of sodium
2. Cold Cuts and Cured Meats--deli or pre-packaged turkey can have as much as 1,050 mg of sodium per serving
3. Pizza--One slice may have up to 760 mg of sodium
4. Poultry--Lean, skinless grilled chicken is great.  But nuggets and even fresh poultry often have added sodium.  Be sure to check the labels--a 4 ounce serving shouldn't have more than 100 mg of sodium. 
5. Soup--One cup of canned chicken noodle soup can have up to 940 mg of sodium.
6. Sandwiches--When you combine the bread, meat, cheese, and condiments, you can easily surpass 1,500 mg of sodium in one sitting.  Try swapping out some of the meat, cheese, and typical condiments for extra vegetables to reduce some of the sodium intake.