You might not suspect it, but a half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese contains 360 milligrams of sodium. One Pepperidge Farm whole grain white bagel: 440. And that healthy Heart Smart Prego Traditional Italian sauce: 430. I'm not so shocked that V-8 juice is full of sodium (480 mg in one cup), but the others, well, I'm surprised.

Harmful amounts of salt may be hidden in some unexpected foods, according to the January issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The government advises that healthy adults get 2,300 mg per day (about one teaspoon) and for those trying to control high blood pressure: 1,500 mg is tops. Sneaky salt can therefore be a problem, pushing our limits above what they should be. We might think we're eating smart if we keep our calories, fat, and sugar in check. But loads of lingering salt can definitely derail our diets.

Two suggestions: One, do a little basic math next time you're browsing the aisles at your supermarket, and buy only the products that keep you in a salt-safe range. Two, try to live without your salt shaker. With so much sodium already in our foods, there's really no need to add more.

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