U.S. children eat too much salt

Stop passing the salt or your kids could end up with higher blood pressure than you.

Sugar isn't the only issue for kids anymore. Studies say American children and teens are eating way too much salt. More than 1,000 milligrams too much, the same amount in a McDonald's Big Mac.

"I think it's crazy and I think it's because they eat too much processed food," said Sarah Leifeste a dance teacher in Houston. "The amount in like the snacks they eat probably is more than should be proportionate for them."

She's right! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study in the journal Pediatric that says kids are eating as much salt as adults. It's contributing to their rising blood pressure rates.

Kids that were studied had eaten an average of 3,387 milligrams per day.  That's more than twice their daily recommended sodium. The children who ate the most salt faced double the risk of having elevated blood pressure. For overweight or obese kids, the risk more than triples.

Health experts say young people should have between 1,200 and 1,500 milligrams of sodium per daily. That's about one-half teaspoon of salt. 

"Kids need to eat fresher food like fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat meats," Leifeste suggested. "I think something needs to be done about the prices of healthy foods because I was just shopping and everything healthy is so much more expensive."

Want to find a way to lower your child's salt intake? Try force feeding them salt until they never want it again.