Salt, Nutrition | featured news

American children eat as much salt as adults - about 1,000 milligrams too much, or the same amount as in just one Big Mac. Extra salt is linked with higher blood pressure, even in kids, but government research says those who are overweight and obese may be most vulnerable to its effects....

The government also urged Americans to avoid sugary drinks and drink water instead and to read labels to pick soup, bread and frozen meals with less salt.

Finding healthful kids' meals is not child's play, found a survey of eight fast-food chains.

Shaving 3 grams off the daily salt intake of Americans could prevent up to 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths in the United States, while saving $24 billion in health costs per year, researchers reported on Wednesday.