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newsnet5.comPHOENIX -- We all love to go out to eat when we can afford it. But perhaps we should be asking if our health can afford it.
Many popular chain restaurants are serving some dishes loaded with salt, but just how risky is it?
Doctors say too much of it can eventually kill you.
"Salt drives up blood pressure, and blood pressure is one of the key components driving coronary heart disease," said Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen.
Nissen said that's the number one cause of death in this country.
So how much salt is too much?
Most people may not be sure, but the
American Heart Association recommends less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. That's one teaspoon of table salt for the whole day.
But what worries Nissen and others is the salt you can't see.
We showed Nissen the sodium content of one piece of
Pizza Hut's large meat lover's pan pizza, and he said just two slices will put you over the maximum for the whole day.
But that's not the saltiest food out there.
According to the restaurant's Web site, grilled pork chops at
Romano's Macaroni Grill are packed with 4,040 mg of sodium.
Even if you eat nothing else all day, you're still taking in almost double the maximum amount of sodium suggested.
Even more surprising? Sometimes it's not a large entree that gets you.
- At Papa John's, four cheese sticks along with two cups of buffalo sauce equates to 2,920 mg, according to the restaurant's Web site.
- Thinking of stopping by Chili's? The chain's skillet queso with chips appetizer has nearly double the sodium you should have in a day, around 4,770 mg.
- Quizno's turkey bacon guacamole sandwich isn't far behind, with 3,700 mg of sodium.
- Though it sounds like a healthy option, McDonald's premium Southwest salad has almost 1,000 mg, and that's before you add a sodium-packed dressing. Add the balsalmic vinaigrette and you're at nearly 1,700 mg.
- The saltiest we found? PF Chang's large bowl of hot and sour soup tops the list with 5,990 mg of sodium.
Nissen said even if you don't have high blood pressure, you still need to be concerned about the foods you eat.
"Over time, you eat enough salt, your blood pressure will go up," Nissen said. "By age 65 in America, 50 percent of the population has high blood pressure."
