Stealth Source of Salt

Nearly half of American adults eat sandwiches on a daily basis. However, they are not necessarily a healthy option. Indeed, new research has shown that they account for one-fifth of total daily sodium intake. Nutritionist Rhonda Sebastian, MA, and colleagues at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) analysed data from the What We Eat in America NHANES 2009-2010 study. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a maximum intake of 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. For certain groups – adults over 50, African-Americans, and those with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease – the recommended amount is reduced to 1,500 milligrams per day. The study results revealed that, for adults, sandwiches alone contribute 30% of the less restrictive guideline and 46% of the stricter guideline. Results also showed that people who ate sandwiches had significantly higher energy intakes than those who did not. Those who consumed a sandwich on the survey day took in, on average, around 300 kilocalories more than those who did not report eating a sandwich. Sandwich reporters also had higher total sodium intakes, averaging around 600 milligrams per day higher than sandwich non-reporters. “Though much national attention is appropriately focused on reducing sodium in the food supply, consumer choices still play a vital role,” concluded study co-author Celia Wilkinson Enns, MS, RD. “Due to sandwiches’ frequent consumption and considerable contributions to sodium intake, substituting lower-sodium for higher-sodium ingredients in sandwiches could significantly impact sodium intakes.”