U.S.Eats Too MuchSalt

People in the United Statesconsume more than twice the recommended amount of salt,raising their risk forhigh blood pressure,heart attacks and strokes,government health

experts said onThursday.

They found nearly 70percent of U.S.adults are in high-risk groups that would benefit from alower-salt diet of no more than 1,500 mg per day,yet most consume close to

3,500 mg per day.

“It'simportant for people to eat less salt.People who adopt a heart-healthy eatingpattern that includes a diet low in sodium and rich in potassium and calciumcan improve

their bloodpressure,”Dr.Darwin Labarthe of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsaid in a statement.

"People need toknow their recommended daily sodium limit and take action to reduce sodiumintake,"Labarthe said.

The study in CDC'sweekly report on death and disease used national survey data to show that twoout of three adults should be consuming no more than 1,500 mg of sodium

per day because theyare black or over the age of 40-which are considered highrisk groups.

Yet studies showmost people in the United States eat 3,436 mg of sodium perday,according to a 2005-2006 CDC estimate.

Most of the sodiumeaten comes from packaged,processed and restaurant foods.The CDC said it willjoin other agencies in the Health and Human Services department in

working with majorfood manufacturers and chain restaurants to reduce sodium levels in the foodsupply.

Nationwide,16million men and women have heart disease and 5.8 million are estimated to havehad a stroke.Cutting salt consumption can reduce these risks,the CDC said.How much salt domost American adults eat per day?

A.No more than 1,500mg.

B.Closer to 3,500mg.

C.Less than 3,436mg.

D.Closer to 1,500mg.