The damage: 368 mg per slice of American cheese or 428 mg in 1 ounce of grated parmesan
Compared to: 2 bags of Lay's BBQ Potato Chips: 426 mg

Don't worry: We would never suggest you give up cheese for good. Instead, try switching types. One slice of mozzarella has half the sodium of parmesan, and adds a similar Italian flair to your pasta.

The damage: 880 mg per whole dill pickle
Compared to: 1 Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger: 870 mg

Read your labels closely. Sure, a single serving of pickles might only contain 220 milligrams of salt, but when was the last time you ate a quarter of a pickle? Eat the whole thing and you've devoured more than half a day's worth of sodium. We don't even want to think about what happened to our editor when she drank an entire jar of pickle juice to test out hangover cures.

The damage: 890 mg per cup
Compared to: 1 Ramen Noodle packet: 750-950 mg

Mmm, mmm, good -- and oh so salty. Just one cup will cost you nearly 75 percent of your daily sodium intake -- and one 8-ounce cup of soup has filled no one up ever.

The damage: 642 mg for a 1/2 cup
Compared to: 1 slice of pepperoni pizza: 610 mg

Pasta gets all the blame for its high-carb content, but your sauce is the one sabotaging your diet by piling on the sodium. Try pureeing your own tomatoes and adding fresh herbs and spices next time you whip up spaghetti.

The damage: 294 mg (230 mg per cup + 64 mg in 1/2 cup skim milk)
Compared to: 1 bag of Crunchy Cheetos: 250 mg

Raisin Bran can be your friend if you're lacking in fiber, but the high sodium content may not be worth it. Try other breakfast cereals like Kashi GoLean, which has only 85 milligrams of sodium.