5 Secret Salt Bombs

Find out which foods have secret salts lurking within them.

5 Secret Salt Bombs

While we all know to avoid certain salty foods like pickles, pretzels, and store-bought soups, it turns out that there are tons of foods with hidden sodium that we’d never suspect. According to the CDC, the average American consumes more than 3,400 mg of sodium daily, while the American Heart Association suggests consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium, with the ideal limit being 1,500 mg. Over 75% of our daily salt intake actually comes from hidden salts in packaged foods. With the help of Dr. Jennifer Caudle, Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, we are going to uncover the top five secret salt bombs you need to know about.

More: The Plan to Break Up With Salt

Breakfast Foods and Baked Goods

Breakfast Foods and Baked Goods

As Dr. Caudle points out, salt can actually make sugar taste sweeter and make cookies more crunchy. For this reason, cereals and other processed foods have a lot more sodium than we would think. For example, one cup of Frosted O’s can have 1/3 of your total daily allotment and biscuit or pancake mixes can have up to 800 mg of sodium in just one serving. To avoid the salt trap, try buying organic cereals with fewer ingredients so you can keep track of the sugar and salt content or make your own granola for breakfast instead.

More: 3 Simple Steps to Break Your Salt Addiction

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We've all been there — we get a cramp in our stomach, maybe with some nausea or constipation. It's easy to think it may just be indigestion. But what if it's something more serious like diverticulitis? That's a condition of inflammation or infection in one or more small pouches that can form in your digestive tract. Here's how to tell the difference between the pain and how to know when you should see a doctor.