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The 10 Saltiest Restaurant Foods in America

Most of us have heard that it's a good idea to cut down on sodium, but besides making sure the top to the salt shaker is screwed on properly, what does that really mean? Well, first, realize that salt is an essential mineral that our body can't function without. Current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that adults in general should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (1500 if you have high blood pressure, are African American, or are over age 51.)

If 2300 mg sounds like a lot, it is. There's an estimated 189 mg of sodium in one of those little salt packages you get at McDonald's. So if you downed a dozen of them, you'd still be within your daily sodium intakeóassuming you didn't eat anything else all day, which you probably wouldn't, because you'd be too busy trying to drain your swimming pool with a flexi-straw.

But a dozen little sodium packages is nothing when you consider what you're getting from these foods.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Chili's Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad)

Calories 1,020
Fat 67 g
Saturated Fat 14 g
Sodium 3,730

Chili's Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken

Calories 680
Fat 27 g
Saturated Fat 4.5 g
Sodium 1,150
That's the equivalent of over 18 salt packets.

And you thought you were doing the right thing ordering the salad. But remember, "salad" is just a word that means "a mixture of foods." Nobody said they were good foods.

SALTIEST FOOD

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TGI Friday's Jack Daniel's Ribs & Shrimp (w/o sides)

Calories 1730
Fat 74 g
Saturated fat 22 g
Sodium 4140 mg

TGI Friday's Jack Daniel's Petite Sirloin with Crispy Shrimp

Calories 640
Fat 20 g
Saturated fat 9.5 g
Sodium 2110 mg
That's the equivalent of over 20 salt packets.

4140 mg sodium, if you dare to have fries with that you'll be tacking on another 980 mg of sodium.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Cheesecake Factory Sunrise Fiesta Burrito

Calories 1,720
Saturated fat 37 g
Sodium 4600 mg

Cheesecake Factory Plain Omelette

Calories 490
Saturated fat 10 g
Sodium 730 mg
That's the equivalent of 23 salt packets.

With 4600 mg sodium, this breakfast burrito packs almost twice the daily recommended sodium allowance. If you like to start your day off bloated, this is the burrito for you. Already made the mistake of indulging in this one? Get back to feeling like your un-puffy self with our Ultimate One Day Detox.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Chili's Chicken Crispers – Honey Chipotle Style

Calories 1,750
Fat 81 g
Saturated fat 14 g
Sodium 4910 mg

Chili's Lighter Choice Margarita Grilled Chicken

Calories 610
Fat 16 g
Saturated fat 3 g
Sodium 2450 mg
That's the equivalent of over 24 salt packets.

With 4910 mg sodium, coupled with its 81 grams of fat, you're basically eating your cardiologist's heart out.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Applebee's Sizzling Skillet Shrimp Fajita

Calories 1,170
Fat 45 g
Saturated fat 21 g
Sodium 5140 mg

Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp

Calories 610
Fat 27 g
Saturated fat 7 g
Sodium 1960 mg
That's the equivalent of over 25 salt packets.

5140 mg sodium! How Applebees managed to turn shrimp and sauteed vegetables into one of the saltiest foods in America may be the 8th wonder of the world.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Chili's Texas Cheese Fries – Full Order

Calories 1,720
Fat 119 g
Saturated fat 49 g
Sodium 5310 mg

Classic Nachos – Regular

Calories 830
Fat 57 g
Saturated fat 30 g
Sodium 2010 mg
That's the equivalent of over 26 salt packets.

A full order has 5310 mg sodium and 119 grams of fat. Stretchy pants, anyone?

SALTIEST FOOD

On The Border Mexican Grill and Cantina/Facebook

On the Border Firecracker Stuffed Jalapeños w/ Salsa Ranch

Calories 1,900
Fat 138 g
Saturated Fat 35 g
Sodium 5,760 mg

On the Border Grilled Chicken Fajita Taco with Cilantro Lime Rice

Calories 340
Fat 6.5 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Sodium 990
That's the equivalent of over 28 salt packets.

Jalapeños can boost your metabolism, but they'll be fighting an uphill battle against all those calories, fat, and sodium. Ditch the rest of the order and add jalapeños to another option.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Singapore Street Noodles

Calories 920
Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Sodium 2750 mg

Dan Dan Noodles

Calories 800
Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Sodium 6,120 mg
That's the equivalent of over 30 salt packets.

At an artery-shaking 6,120 mg sodium, asking for the low sodium soy sauce won't make a dent in your monster salt intake.

SALTIEST FOOD

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Applebee's Grilled Chicken Wonton Tacos

Calories 540
Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Sodium 1,750

Applebee's Appetizer Sampler

Calories 2,210
Fat 137 g
Saturated Fat 45 g
Sodium 6,260
That's the equivalent of over 31 salt packets.

6260 milligrams of hypertension for you. Instead of ordering so many apps, have a healthy snack before you go to the restaurant. And if you can't resist reaching for the chips, choose one of the Eat This, Not That!-approved 10 Best Junk Foods for Weight Loss.

SALTIEST FOOD

PF Chang's Chicken Noodle Soup Bowl

Calories 620
Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Sodium 2,720

PF Chang's Hot & Sour Soup Bowl

Calories 380
Fat 11 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Sodium 7,980 mg
That's the equivalent of over 39 salt packets!

Yes, congratulations. If you eat this, you'll have slurped down the sodium equivalent of 44 individual bags of Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips. After dining on this disaster, you're going to need these 8 Foods That Beat Bloat.

 

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