Salt Shockers Slideshow: High-Sodium Foods, Condiments, and Drinks

Salt Shockers Slideshow: High-Sodium Foods, Condiments, and Drinks: We may malign the salt shaker, but sodium plays an important role in the body. It's essential for fluid balance, muscle strength, and nerve function. But most of us get too much. U.S. guidelines call for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day -- about 1 teaspoon of table salt. And half of Americans should drop to 1,500 milligrams a day. Surprisingly, most of our salt intake is hidden in the foods we buy at the grocery store.