So maybe that cheese craving is a salt craving–check out the serving size, too!
AANP – New Research Reveals Cheese Saltier Than Seawater – (Monday, December 3, 2012) –A new report from scientists at CASH (Consensus on Salt and Health) indicates that most cheese brands contain a sodium concentration that exceeds that of seawater, suggesting they are a major contributor to excess consumption and an unnecessarily high health risk. (Most people underestimate sodium intake by assuming that a serving of cheese is larger than it is; a serving of cheese is considered to be 30 gm, or 1 ounce, which is about the size of a pair of dice.) While Roquefort and feta were saltier by concentration, a tiny serving of cheddar cheese was still found to contain more salt than a bag of potato chips: 520 mg. The group noted that the average American gets about 3,400 mg of sodium a day, much more than the 2,300 mg per day recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and more than double the 1,500 mg per day recommended for those who are aged 51 or older, or black, or diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. An earlier report by this group found that just 2 rashers of bacon contain a shocking 3,000 mg of salt.