Read labels for salt content

Most salt in American diets comes from food processing rather than the salt shaker. Here are some suggestions on how to cut down:

•Read food labels. Salt is about 40 percent sodium, so look for the words soda, as in sodium bicarbonate or baking soda.

•Some drugs contain high amounts of sodium, so read those labels, too.

•Choose fresh, frozen or canned food without added salt. Avoid canned vegetables packed with salt.

•Substitute salt with spices containing less sodium.

•Select unsalted nuts, beans and peas.

•Pay attention to these foods, the most common sources of salt: meat pizza, white bread, processed cheese, hot dogs, spaghetti with sauce, ham, ketchup, cooked rice, white rolls, flour tortilla, salty snacks and whole milk.