What is the greatest single source of sodium in the diet?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top source of sodium consumption in the American diet is bread and rolls, which make up 7.4 percent of the total. Cold cuts and cured meat come in second place, with pizza in third.

The CDC notes that most of Americans' sodium consumption comes from store-bought items, with restaurant food accounting for just 25 percent of sodium intake. For Mexican-Americans, the predominant sources of sodium are burritos, tacos and tamales. The mean daily sodium consumption for Americans is 3,266 milligrams. A reduction of 400 mg is projected to save $7 billion in health-care expenditures and save 28,000 lives each year.