"The extra water retention caused by [excess] sodium can significantly raise your blood pressure," Beckerman says. "This puts a strain on your heart, arteries, kidneys, and even your brain." Over time, this can lead to cardiovascular issues, she says. That's why the American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt) per day.
Doing this means more than just watching how much salt you add to your dinner; there are some surprising high-sodium foods to be mindful of, too. "Frozen foods can have sneaky sources of sodium to help with preservation," Beckerman says. Another food that can be high in sodium that you might not suspect: cheese. Because high-sodium foods don't always taste salty, it's always important to check out the nutrition label when grocery shopping as a way to keep your overall sodium intake in check.
Check out the episode above to see the six other surprising high-sodium foods and more of Beckerman's tips on what to look for when reading the nutrition label. While consuming salt isn't bad, it's still important to know your intake. And with the tips in this video, you'll know exactly what to look out for.
