Look out! You are being followed. In the mornings, when you're minding your own business, eating your Puffy Pops cereal, it's there. Somewhere lurking in the offerings of that all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, it lingers. When you're sipping on your favorite sports drink, it lies in wait. As you reach for a handful of buttered popcorn, a soft pretzel and a large soda, you guessed it -- it's there.

No matter where you turn, day or night, rain or shine, it can worm its way into your life and leave you thirsty for more. It's salt and there's really no way to keep it from infiltrating your diet and your life. Unless you pay careful attention.

If you're like most people, chances are you're consuming far too much sodium. Unfortunately, most of the convenient, pre-packaged or frozen foods that you grab contain obscene amounts of salt. This leads to overeating, not to mention the health problems that accompany a diet high in salt.

The best safeguard against consuming too much is to read the labels and become aware. That means avoiding foods that are high in sodium. You can dramatically reduce the amount of salt you intake by making minor modifications to your every day diet.

Here's a list of the top 10 biggest offenders. These sneaky, salt-loaded foods will put you over the top for daily sodium requirements.

1. Salted Pretzels

2. Salted Nuts

3. Potato Chips

4. Processed Cheese

5. Soy Sauce

6. Beef Jerky

7. Ham, Hot Dogs

8. Canned Soups

9. Frozen Meals

10. Salad Dressings

Carolina Diaz-Bordon
eDiets.com Staff Writer

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