A new law taking effect December 1 will force chain restaurants in New York City to place a salt shaker symbol next to restaurant items with more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which is the recommended limit for most Americans. That's equal to about 1 teaspoon of salt.
But only about 1 in 10 Americans actually limits themselves to that much salt, according to Dr. Holly Phillips, a board certified general internist in New York. The reason, she toldCBS This Morning, is because 75 percent of the salt Americans ingest is hidden in restaurant and processed foods that may not even taste salty. "Only 10 percent of the salt we get comes from our salt shaker," Dr. Phillips said.
It's easy to see why Americans overindulge in salt, which can cause high blood pressure and increase a person's risk of stroke and heart disease. Many common menu items at popular chain restaurants contain more salt than Americans are supposed to eat in an entire day.
Here are a dozen of the most sodium-packed items:
1. Quizno's Large Ultimate Turkey Club
- 5,820 milligrams of sodium
- 1,100 calories
2. Chili's Texas Cheese Fries (full order)
- 4,950 milligrams of sodium
- 1,710 calories
3. TGI Friday's New York Cheddar & Bacon Burger
- 4,280 milligrams of sodium
- 1,490 calories
4. Red Lobster Crispy Calamari and Vegetables
- 4,280 milligramsof sodium
- 1,660 calories
5. Denny's Lumberjack Slam* With Buttermilk Biscuit
- 4,190 milligramsof sodium
- 1,430 calories
*Includes two pancakes, slice of ham, two bacon strips, two sausage links, two eggs, and hash browns.
6. Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter
- 3,020milligramsof sodium
- 1,420 calories
7. Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana
- 3,000 milligramsof sodium
- 1,050 calories
8. Applebee's Grilled Shrimp 'N Spinach Salad
- 2,990 milligramsof sodium
- 1,000 calories
9. Subway Footlong Turkey Italiano Melt
- 2,980 milligramsof sodium
- 1,020 calories
10. Panera Bacon Turkey Bravo on Tomato Basil
- 2,910 milligramsof sodium
- 800 calories
11. Chipotle Steak Burrito*
- 2,540 milligramsof sodium
- 1,260 calories
*Includes brown rice, black beans, fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, cheese, guacamole, romaine lettuce.
12. Arby's Mozzarella Sticks (6 pieces)
- 2,530 milligramsof sodium
- 620 calories
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