A new study to be published in the January issue of Consumer Reports reveals that many foods contain a surprising amount of salt, making it hard to avoid excess salt in the diet.

Too much salt is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure, asthma, kidney stones, osteoporosis and stomach cancer. The recommended daily intake of salt is no more than 2,300 milligrams a day in health adults – about one teaspoon, according to current dietary guidelines. People with hypertension should limit sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day. However, Americans consume double that amount.                                

The study analyzed 37 food products and found that a cup of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran contains 350 milligrams of sodium, a half-cup of one brand of low-fat cottage cheese had 360 mg and a Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain White Bagel carried 440 mg.

“Our analysis found that lower-fat products might be higher in sodium. That’s in part because when fat is taken out of full-fat foods, sodium is sometimes used to compensate for flavor,” Jamie Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The study findings are more worrisome as a 50 percent reduction in Americans’ dietary sodium intake could save 150,000 lives a year, according to the American Medical Association.

“On average, Americans consume far more sodium than the recommended daily limit. Unfortunately, cutting back isn't easy because of the high levels of sodium in the many processed and prepared foods that Americans eat on a regular basis,” Hirsh said.