(CNN) - A new report by the American Heart Association finds most Americans consume double the recommended amount of sodium.
The average adult is supposed to consume about 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. For a toddler, it's about half that amount, around 1,000 milligrams. However, most adults actually consume double the amount of sodium, around 4,000 milligrams a day.
Too much sodium causes our body to retain excess fluid, over time raises blood pressure and can lead to hypertension.
The American Heart Association, in a separate study, found that some of the saltiest foods are being marketed to children.
The study looked at salt content in baby and toddler foods. It found three-fourths of the pre-packaged meals and savory snacks found in the baby and toddler food aisle - like mac 'n cheese, pizza and chicken and vegetables - have too much salt, defined as over 210 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Those facts did not come as a surprise to Dr. Warren Levy, a cardiologist at Virginia Heart.
"Anything that comes out of can, anything with preservatives automatically has high sodium. Anything that's easy for us to make usually has high sodium, but we do need to start paying attention to the sodium content in the foods we're giving our kids because high blood pressure is starting at a younger and younger age," Levy said.
There are benefits to salt. It regulates blood sugar and the body's hydration.
The Salt Institute believes the recommended daily allowance for salt is not rooted in science, but politics.
Morton Satin, with the Salt Institute, says sodium has unfairly gotten a bad reputation as a cause of blood pressure and heart disease.
"We're simply eating too much and we're not getting enough exercise," Satin said.
For Karen Nudelman, a health coach and mother to a 10-month-old and 4-year-old, it comes down to reading food labels and tasting your children's food.
"I think you should. I think you should know what your child is eating," Nudelman said.
Start your children eating healthy young and they will eat healthy for life.
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Too much sodium causes our bodies to retain fluid and over time can raise blood pressure and lead to hypertension. (Source: CNN)
