Sodium is most often consumed in the form of salt, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people in the U.S. are getting an excess of sodium in their diets — often through foods that have more sodium than you might think. Although the body needs the mineral to function, overconsumption of sodium can increase one’s susceptibility to stroke or heart disease. While experts recommend getting less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily, many Americans are consuming upwards of 3,400 mg each day.
But is there really that much of a difference in sodium content between salted and unsalted peanut butter? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a 2-tablespoon serving of smooth peanut butter with no added salt contains 5.44 mg of sodium. In comparison, the same-sized serving of smooth salted peanut butter has 136 mg of sodium (via USDA).