Final answer:
Salty food, particularly processed foods, is a major source of sodium in the typical American's diet. It's important to choose foods with lower sodium levels and check nutrition labels to monitor and reduce overall sodium intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is D. Salty food. Salty foods are a major source of sodium in the typical American's diet. Processed foods, in particular, are known to have high sodium content due to added salt (sodium chloride) which serves as a preservative, enhances flavor, and improves texture. Americans consume an average of 3,436 milligrams of sodium per day, which exceeds the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams for healthy individuals.
Many processed foods such as soups, bread, and frozen meals contain significant amounts of sodium. Choosing these foods with lower sodium levels can help manage overall intake. To maintain a healthy diet, it is also advised to avoid oversalting foods and instead use other herbs and spices for flavoring. While common table salt is the most significant dietary source of sodium, nutrition labels should always be checked for sodium content to ensure a lower intake.