• Most Americans erroneously believe that sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to table salt, according to an American Heart Association (AHA) survey. Among 1,000 Americans surveyed, 61% thought sea salt was the healthier choice, and less than a quarter knew that the daily recommendation for sodium intake maxes out at 1,500 mg, the survey found. Nor did they know that there were recommended limits on wine drinking, even though 76% thought that indulging in the drink was heart-healthy.
• The survey found that 46% of people incorrectly believed that the salt they sprinkle on their dinner is the primary source of sodium in the American diet. Rather, up to 75% of our sodium intake comes from processed foods such as tomato sauce, soups, condiments, canned foods, and prepared mixes, the AHA said.
• Just 24% of the survey population knew that sodium intake should max out at 1,500 mg/day, because excessive sodium can lead to high blood pressure as well as an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Respondents also were unaware of the AHA’s recommended limitations on wine. Although 76% agreed with a statement that wine is good for the heart, only 30% got the right answer when it came to the organization’s recommended limits on intake.
• That’s no more than two drinks per day for men, and only one for women — which translates to 8 oz and 4 oz respectively.
• A third of respondents did not know about the limits at all, and another third grossly overestimated them.
• “This survey shows that we need to do a better job of educating people about the heart-health risks of overconsumption of wine, especially its possible role in increasing blood pressure,” Gerald Fletcher, MD, an AHA spokesperson and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said in a statement.
• In fact, just 59% of those surveyed reported knowing their actual blood pressure reading; although when limited solely to those with hypertension, 80% were aware of their numbers.

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