Your body needs sodium, but some of us get way too much of it. Recent statistics from the American Heart Association show that the average daily sodium intake in America is 3,600 milligrams - more than double the Association's recommendation of 1,500 milligrams max.

But what if you've been avoiding clear offenders like salted nuts and potato chips? There are actually other sneaky sodium bombs out there which are found in seemingly healthy foods - they all contain more than 255 milligrams of sodium, which is the amount you'll find in a 1 1/2-ounce bag of Lays Classic Potato Chips.

Here are the not-so-innocent culprits:

1/2 Cup Nonfat Cottage Cheese



This contains a surprising 270 milligrams of sodium—and if you aren't careful, it's easy to eat more than ½ cup and really overdo it with the salty stuff.
 

A 6 1/2" Whole-Wheat Pita



Pita is hailed as the healthy bread—especially when they're whole-wheat—and they're a good source of fiber. But they also come with a heavy dose of sodium: 284 milligrams in just one pita pocket.


2 Tbsp Reduced-Fat Italian Salad Dressing



There is more sodium in 2 Tbsp of your salad topper than in an entire bag of chips. This variety is loaded with 260 mg per serving—although plenty of other types of salad dressing pack just as much.


A Veggie Burger



The USDA says that a single store-bought veggie burger patty tends to come in around 398 milligrams of sodium—and that's even before you consider all of the salt in the bun and other things you add to the burger.
 

1/2 Cup Canned Tomato Sauce



Tomato sauce contains lycopene; a carotenoid that research has linked to a decreased risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. So it's good for you, except that you have to eat it in moderation since half a cup of the stuff packs a shocking 642 milligrams of sodium.