Curbing salt intake could add years to your life

By Lisa Drayer, CNN

Updated 1718 GMT (0118 HKT) July 20, 2018

Fast food is convenient, but it can be salty. Americans eat about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day, more than the suggested 2,300 milligrams and double the 1,500 milligrams for people who are over 50, African-American or who have hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease. <br /><br />While "fast food isn't going to wreck anyone's diet if consumed on occasion," you should limit sodium, says Rima Kleiner, a Virginia-based nutritionist. <br /><br /><br />Here are some of the worst fast-food meals for sodium, and better options. (via <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20620588,00.html" target="_blank">Health.com</a>)
Photos: Worst fast-food meals for sodium
Worst fast-food meals for sodium – Fast food is convenient, but it can be salty. Americans eat about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day, more than the suggested 2,300 milligrams and double the 1,500 milligrams for people who are over 50, African-American or who have hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease.

While "fast food isn't going to wreck anyone's diet if consumed on occasion," you should limit sodium, says Rima Kleiner, a Virginia-based nutritionist.


Here are some of the worst fast-food meals for sodium, and better options. (via Health.com)
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<strong>Quiznos' Large French Dip:</strong> While it sounds good -- sliced prime rib with mozzarella, roasted peppers and onions, and mild peppercorn sauce on artisan bread with a side of au jus -- this sandwich is a sodium-delivering bomb. Even without the cheese, sauce, and juice for dipping, you'll be consuming 2,240 milligrams. With the works, it packs a whopping 3,610 mg of sodium and 1,200 calories. (The au jus adds 850 mg of sodium). <strong>Choose this instead:</strong> Create your own flatbread. Try roast beef and Swiss with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber, and honey-dijon dressing. Sodium: 995 mg. Calories: 410.
Photos: Worst fast-food meals for sodium
Quiznos' Large French Dip – Quiznos' Large French Dip: While it sounds good -- sliced prime rib with mozzarella, roasted peppers and onions, and mild peppercorn sauce on artisan bread with a side of au jus -- this sandwich is a sodium-delivering bomb. Even without the cheese, sauce, and juice for dipping, you'll be consuming 2,240 milligrams. With the works, it packs a whopping 3,610 mg of sodium and 1,200 calories. (The au jus adds 850 mg of sodium). Choose this instead: Create your own flatbread. Try roast beef and Swiss with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber, and honey-dijon dressing. Sodium: 995 mg. Calories: 410.
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<strong>Jack in the Box's Deli Trio: </strong>This roasted turkey sandwich on artisan bread is layered with salty Genoa salami, ham, Provolone, and pickles and slathered in a creamy Italian dressing. Surprise! The saltiest ingredients are actually the turkey (455 milligrams of sodium) and the bread (596 mg). The Deli Trio packs 2,442 mg of sodium and 624 calories. <strong>Choose this instead:</strong> A Chicken Fajita Pita. You'll cut your sodium intake by nearly two-thirds, to 870 mg. Calories: 320.<a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20393387,00.html" target="_blank">Health.com: The fattiest foods in the United States</a>
Photos: Worst fast-food meals for sodium
Jack in the Box's Deli Trio – Jack in the Box's Deli Trio: This roasted turkey sandwich on artisan bread is layered with salty Genoa salami, ham, Provolone, and pickles and slathered in a creamy Italian dressing. Surprise! The saltiest ingredients are actually the turkey (455 milligrams of sodium) and the bread (596 mg). The Deli Trio packs 2,442 mg of sodium and 624 calories. Choose this instead: A Chicken Fajita Pita. You'll cut your sodium intake by nearly two-thirds, to 870 mg. Calories: 320.Health.com: The fattiest foods in the United States
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<strong>Arby's Mozzarella Sticks:</strong> Six battered-and-fried sticks contain 2,530 milligrams of sodium, more than a day's worth , and 620 calories. Whole-milk mozzarella isn't the saltiest cheese around. It contains 178 mg of sodium per 1 ounce, according to CalorieLab.com, versus nearly 272 mg for a Kraft nonfat American single. "Typically, a lot of salt is added to the breading mixture, which drives up the sodium content of the fried mozzarella sticks," Kleiner says. <strong>Choose this instead:</strong> A serving of three Potato Cakes contains 700 mg of sodium and 340 calories.
Photos: Worst fast-food meals for sodium
Arby's Mozzarella Sticks – Arby's Mozzarella Sticks: Six battered-and-fried sticks contain 2,530 milligrams of sodium, more than a day's worth , and 620 calories. Whole-milk mozzarella isn't the saltiest cheese around. It contains 178 mg of sodium per 1 ounce, according to CalorieLab.com, versus nearly 272 mg for a Kraft nonfat American single. "Typically, a lot of salt is added to the breading mixture, which drives up the sodium content of the fried mozzarella sticks," Kleiner says. Choose this instead: A serving of three Potato Cakes contains 700 mg of sodium and 340 calories.
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<strong>Panera Bread's Full Bacon Turkey Bravo: </strong>This 800-calorie combination of smoked turkey, Applewood-smoked bacon, and smoked Gouda with lettuce and tomato on a tomato basil loaf tips the sodium scale at 2,800 milligrams. Cured bacon and processed meats are typically high in sodium, Kleiner says. The bread alone weighs in at 320 mg of sodium. <strong>Choose this instead: </strong>A whole Roasted Turkey Artichoke Panini on Asiago Cheese Focaccia. For roughly the same number of calories (780), you'll slash your salt intake by more than half (1,190 mg).
Photos: Worst fast-food meals for sodium
Panera Bread's Full Bacon Turkey Bravo – Panera Bread's Full Bacon Turkey Bravo: This 800-calorie combination of smoked turkey, Applewood-smoked bacon, and smoked Gouda with lettuce and tomato on a tomato basil loaf tips the sodium scale at 2,800 milligrams. Cured bacon and processed meats are typically high in sodium, Kleiner says. The bread alone weighs in at 320 mg of sodium. Choose this instead: A whole Roasted Turkey Artichoke Panini on Asiago Cheese Focaccia. For roughly the same number of calories (780), you'll slash your salt intake by more than half (1,190 mg).
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<strong>Domino's Mac-N-Cheese: </strong>This is a nice change of pace from pizza, but a gooey bowl of melted cheese and penne pasta will cost you 1,760 milligrams of sodium and 670 calories per dish. Served in a bread bowl, this all-American favorite contains 1,390 mg of sodium and 730 calories per half-serving. Reality check: Are you really stopping at half a bowl? Try doubling those numbers. <strong>Choose this instead:</strong> A dish of pasta primavera. It packs 770 mg of sodium and 540 calories.
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