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Salt and Sodium

Learn more about salt and sodium in your diet and how it affects your health. Find resources and tips for reducing the amount in your diet while keeping the flavor.

  • USDA FoodData Central

    View common foods and their sodium content using these five databases.

    • USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory
  • Be Salt Smart

    Learn how to select and prepare foods with less salt and sodium.

    • USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
  • Top 10 Sources of Sodium

    More than 40% of the sodium we eat each day comes from only 10 types of food. Many people are surprised to learn which foods are on the list because the foods do not always taste salty.

    • HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
  • Reducing Sodium in Children's Diets

    About 9 in 10 US children eat more sodium than recommended. Read about how parents and caregivers can help.

    • HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Salt

    Find information on sodium and food sources, how to reduce sodium, and sodium reduction resources for everyone.

    • HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
  • Sodium

    Read about sodium - what it is, where it is found, and tips for reducing sodium in your diet.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  • Eating Too Much Salt? Ways to Cut Back...Gradually

    Learn what steps you can take to reduce sodium in your diet.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration
  • Use the Nutrition Facts Label to Reduce Your Intake of Sodium in Your Diet

    Use the Nutrition Facts label to make informed decisions about sodium.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration
  • Choose Foods Low In Sodium

    See how you can choose and prepare foods that are lower in sodium.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • Tips to Eat Less Salt and Sodium

    From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), find tips for reducing dietary sodium and salt.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • Sodium

    Find the latest news, plus links to overviews, clinical trials and research related to dietary sodium. 

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
  • Sodium in Diet

    Read general information about sodium, including food sources and recommendations for a healthy diet. 

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
  • Use Herbs and Spices Instead of Salt

    Try these herbs and spices to season your food instead of salt. This resource lists herbs and spices with suggested food pairings. 

    • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute