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New Federal Gov. Guidelines On Salt Intake

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There are new federal government guidelines about how much salt you should eat in a day.

Most of us eat nearly two teaspoons of salt each day, but the new guidelines say we should eat a maximum of one teaspoon. Cut that in half again if you're over 50, African-American, or have high blood pressure or diabetes.

Too much salt increases your risk of high blood pressure, stroke and other problems.

Even if we don't use the salt shaker on the dinner table, many of us don't realize that salt is hidden in the food we eat.

"Where you're going to run into trouble is if you buy a lot of frozen prepared meals. They have a lot of sodium," said dietitian Carolyn Suerth Hudson of the Midwest Dairy Council. "Shop the perimeter of the store. That's where you'll find the whole natural foods."

The American Heart Association says the new sodium guidelines don't go far enough. The Association recommends that all Americans consume just a half a teaspoon of salt a day.

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