The American diet is full of hearty fruits and vegetables as well as some not so healthy choices.  It is important to get a well rounded diet of whole foods and we all know the rest for healthy eating.  We have always been told to limit our sodium intake as it is not good for the body.  Overly salty foods are seen as the culprit for adding this intense rush of the element into our systems.  This is why I was shocked to discover that popular snack foods such as potato chips and pretzels are not even close to being the reason why we ingest so much salt into our daily routine.

The number one source of sodium in our diet comes from bread and rolls.  Shocked?  I know I was when I read that.  The nearly void of flavor and mundane, everyday food item we know as bread packs in our biggest intake of salt.  Bread goes with everything as a perfect compliment without overwhelming the flavor of other foods.  This could very well be the reason why it has topped the CDC’s list of sodium sources in our diet.

These are the top ten sources of sodium in our diet courtesy of CBS News and compiled here:

10.  Salty Snacks
9.    Meat Mixed Dishes
8.    Pasta Mixed Dishes
7.    Cheese
6.    Sandwiches
5.    Soups
4.    Poultry
3.    Pizza
2.    Cold Cuts and Cured Meats
1.    Breads and Rolls

Bread is unassuming in taste.  When it is consumed, it does not tend to taste overly salty.  It is this friendly combination that allows us to eat more and more of the innocent item without a second thought.  We can eat the bread without thinking that it is the number one source of our sodium.  I suppose that the lesson to learn from this newest report is to remain mindful of the food that we eat.  We should understand that even the less salty food can add up to being a big problem.  Keep this in mind the next time you chomp down on a nice piece of bread.

[ images via: Village Bakery Cafe, The Great Canadian Gift Company ]

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