Some foods naturally contain sodium, although usually in small amounts.
Some people add salt and salty sauces, such as soy sauce, in cooking and at the table, but most dietary salt and sodium comes from foods to which salt has already been added during processing or preparation. Salt Although sodium has important roles in the body, most Americans consume more sodium than they need. The typical American diet provides two to four times this amount. For these individuals, too much salt and sodium intake may be related to the development of high blood pressure. High blood pressure puts an extra strain on the heart.