Practice Safe Salt

Protect yourself–get the skinny on sodium and spread the word.

Test Yourself

Think excess sodium can't happen to you? Take these quizzes to test your Salt IQ.

Salt Smarts Quiz

A harmless flirtation with sodium is good for you, but it's easy to go overboard and find yourself in an unhealthy relationship. Before getting cozy with your next meal, find out if you're adequately protecting your heart from excess sodium.

1

2

3

4

5

America has a love affair with sodium - nine out of ten of us consume too much. How much sodium do the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend as a maximum daily intake?

Which is it?

2,300 mg 3,400 mg 7,600 mg

You got it right!

Explanation

For a healthy heart and diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a maximum of 2,300 mg of sodium per day, or 1,500 mg per day if you are African-American, Latino, over the age of 50 and/or have a family history of heart disease.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

For a healthy heart and diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a maximum of 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Consuming over that limit puts you at risk for high blood pressure which can lead to heart disease and stroke, and has been linked to obesity.

Next Question

Chickens weren’t blessed with double Ds, but at the grocery store their breasts are large and plump. How much sodium can be found in a 4 ounce serving?

Which is it?

50 mg 215 mg 330 mg

You got it right!

Explanation

While sodium is naturally occurring in meat and poultry, you may be getting more than 20 percent of your daily recommended sodium from the processing producers use to keep those breasts plump, moist and enhance their shelf life. Before you buy your meats, read labels carefully to determine how much sodium has been added.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

While sodium is naturally occurring in meat and poultry, you may be getting more than 20 percent of your daily recommended sodium from the processing producers use to keep those breasts plump, moist and enhance their shelf life. Before you buy your meats, read labels carefully to determine how much sodium has been added.

Next Question

Your buddy just went through a breakup and needs a night out on the town. Which drink’s sodium content is best for his aching heart?

Which is it?

A three-olive vodka martini A margarita with salt A Bloody Mary with a pickle spear

You got it right!

Explanation

Sodium isn’t just in your food — it can be found in your drink too. To keep your sodium consumption in check, opt for beverages that do not use premade mixes.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

Sodium isn’t just in your food — it can be found in your drink too. To keep your sodium consumption in check, opt for beverages that do not use premade mixes.

Next Question

Monotony makes any relationship boring. To break out of your nightly routine, you decide to substitute sea salt for regular table salt while cooking. This results in your food containing:

Which is it?

Less sodium More sodium The same amount of sodium

You got it right!

Explanation

Sea salt has grown in popularity for its coarse, crunchy texture and stronger flavor, but both sea and table salt contain about 40 percent sodium.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

Sea salt has grown in popularity for its coarse, crunchy texture and stronger flavor, but both sea and table salt contain about 40 percent sodium.

Next Question

A nice package can be deceiving. What percent of sodium that we consume comes from packaged foods?

Which is it?

15% 65% 95%

You got it right!

Explanation

On average, we get 10 percent of our sodium from salt added during cooking or at the table. About 65 percent of the sodium we eat comes from food bought at retail stores and 25 percent from restaurants, so read food labels and seek out lower sodium options. Salt for Life^® is a culinary breakthrough that contains 70 percent less sodium, helping make good food healthier.

See Your Results

You got it wrong!

Explanation

On average, we get 10 percent of our sodium from salt added during cooking or at the table. About 65 percent of the sodium we eat comes from food bought at retail stores and 25 percent from restaurants, so read food labels and seek out lower sodium options. Salt for Life^® is a culinary breakthrough that contains 70 percent less sodium, helping make good food healthier.

See Your Results

When it comes to salt, it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. Excess salt can increase a person’s risk for:

Which is it?

Stroke Heart failure Kidney stones All of the above

You got it right!

Explanation

Not only does excessive salt put you at risk for those health conditions, it can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, enlarged heart muscle, kidney disease, and headaches.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

Not only does excessive salt put you at risk for those health conditions, it can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, enlarged heart muscle, kidney disease, and headaches.

Next Question

Getting over a breakup takes time. But if you want to kick excess sodium to the curb, how many weeks will it take to change your salt palate?

Which is it?

3 weeks 6 weeks 12 weeks

You got it right!

Explanation

After three weeks of reducing sodium, your taste buds will become accustomed to less salt. Read food labels and educate yourself about sodium in foods to make healthier choices.

Next Question

You got it wrong!

Explanation

After three weeks of reducing sodium, your taste buds will become accustomed to less salt. Read food labels and educate yourself about sodium in foods to make healthier choices.

Next Question

Your Score

You answered out of 5 questions correctly.

It's okay - it happens to everyone sooner or later.

You know what you're doing. Sorta.

You're the master of your salt domain.

Researchers have estimated that reducing daily sodium intake by 1,200 milligrams can prevent up to 92,000 deaths and save up to $24 billion in health care costs annually.*

Do your part. Practice Safe Salt and encourage your loved ones to do the same.

*NYC Department of Health, Sodium Reduction Initiative, 2013

Do You Practice Safe Salt?

Temptation is all around — at home, at work and especially at the grocery store where sodium lurks in unsuspecting places. Opting for low-sodium foods doesn’t mean your tastes buds can’t be tantalized. Take this quiz to find out how much you really know about practicing safe salt.

INCOMPLETE

The dating app that best describes how you dip your sushi in soy sauce is:

Tinder — just a quick swipe

CreditScoreDating.com — measured and deliberate

eHarmony — a committed, long-term plunge

INCOMPLETE

You check food labels for sodium content as often as:

The judges bicker on The Voice, i.e., all the time

Couples from The Bachelor make it down the aisle, i.e., every once in a blue moon

Survivor contestants utter “Mosquitos, starvation and humidity. Best vacay ever!” i.e., never

INCOMPLETE

The song lyric that best describes how you add salt to your food is:

"Shake it like a Polaroid picture"

"Hit me baby one more time"

"Can't touch this"

INCOMPLETE

Your date asks you if you’ve been tested … for high blood pressure, that is. Your answer is:

There's a test for that?

Every year

Once since college

INCOMPLETE

You eat prepackaged foods like you watch:

C-SPAN 3 — you barely acknowledge its existence

YouTube videos — an occasional treat to break up the day

Netflix — a constant nightly binge

INCOMPLETE

The odds of you changing your eating habits to consume less sodium are like:

LeBron dominating a pickup game – a sure thing

Serena Williams winning another grand slam title – it could happen

Peyton Manning becoming a professional figure skater – no chance

It's okay to flirt with sodium.

Whether you’re a Salty Dog, a Salt Tease or the Salt of the Earth, Salt for Life^® can help you reduce your sodium intake while enjoying the foods you love.

Error Message: No quickies! Do the work to get the goods.

You're a Salty Dog

SHARE

You're rolling the dice with your health. Stop thinking with the wrong body part and realize those nice looking buns could be seducing you with excess sodium. It’s not too late to turn your naughty ways into healthy habits — learn the tricks of the trade and clean up your act with these sodium reduction tips:

Check food labels for the sodium content, and aim to stay under 2,300 mg per day. Go lower if you can!

Cook more meals at home with vegetables that are fresh, plain frozen or canned with no salt added.

Try Salt for Life^®, a culinary breakthrough that contains 70 percent less sodium, helping make good food healthier with nature’s alternative salt.

You're a Salt Tease

SHARE

You let sodium have its way with you, but only when you’re in the mood. You know you should exert more will power, but what fun would that be? Your heart is counting on you to protect it, so do it a solid and use these tips to scratch your salt itch:

When dining out, take half of your entrée home to reduce the amount of sodium in your meal.

Shop for low- or reduced-sodium, or no-salt-added versions of foods.

Try Salt for Life^®, a culinary breakthrough that contains 70 percent less sodium, helping make good food healthier with nature’s alternative salt.

You're the Salt of the Earth

SHARE

You’re of chaste mind and body. It doesn’t make you a prude — just savvier about the foods you’re hooking up with. Help your friends steer clear of the bad boys of sodium with these sodium reduction tips:

Split entrées at restaurants with friends to reduce the amount of sodium in the meal.

When cooking at home, opt for fresh poultry, fish and lean meats, rather than canned or processed types.

Recommend Salt for Life^®, a culinary breakthrough that contains 70 percent less sodium, helping make good food healthier with nature’s alternative salt.

• Your parents never gave you "the talk" about safe salt? Don't worry, we'll explain.
  
  
  Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of sodium chloride – such as kosher salt, sea salt and Himalayan salt – while the food we eat contains other forms of sodium. Because sodium affects our overall health, we need to watch out for salt and sodium.”
• 
  

  

  
  Too much sodium can be bad for your health. It is linked to increased risk for osteoporosis, stomach cancer and kidney disease.

  1
  Tweet
• 2

  
  
  Sodium causes water retention, which can increase blood pressure. Too much of it is also linked to increased risk for stroke and heart failure.

  3
  Tweet
• 
  

  

  

  
  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, of which high blood pressure is a major risk factor.

  4
  Tweet
• 
  
  90% of Americans over age 2 consume too much sodium.

  5
  Tweet
• 
  

  

  

  2,300 mg

  

  AVERAGE DAILY

  CONSUMPTION:

  3,400 mg

  

  

  
  Most of us eat more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 mg of sodium.
  Tweet