A new survey from the American Heart Association has found that most people don’t know what an acceptable amount of salt should be.

The survey found that 61 percent falsely believe sea salt is a low-sodium version of table salt. Nearly half incorrectly assumed that table salt is the primary source of sodium in their daily diet, when in fact, processed foods, soups, and canned foods account for 75 percent.

The recommended amount of salt for the average person is 2,300 mg, which is equivalent to about 1 teaspoon a day (and guidelines suggest that higher-risk people should be consuming less — about 1,500 mg a day). Most people, however, take in much more salt than they should.

Too much salt in your diet can lead to hypertension, kidney disease, and many other ailments. Since we’ve grown used to eating incredibly salty foods, it may be hard to wean yourself off. If you are looking for ways to cut back on sodium, steer clear of anything canned, go for low-sodium drinks, and stock your spice rack with flavorful salt alternatives.

Click here for information on the Australian government’s ‘Drop the salt’ campaign