DALLAS, Texas -- While many North Texans are attempting to eat smarter by counting calories, fat grams and carbohydrates, dieticians say some people are overlooking another crucial factor -- sodium intake.

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Video: Sodium Intake Often Overlooked
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Kristi Schmidlap, 35, said she is an example of those cases. She said she was as surprised as anyone when her doctor checked her blood pressure and found it so high that she was admitted to the hospital.

"I thought I was pretty healthy ... and it was staggering. Two hundred and five over 115 ... pretty high," Schmidlap said. "If your blood pressure gets that high and out of control, there is a huge risk of having a stroke."

Kristi said she has a family history of high blood pressure.

Jennifer Neily, a registered and licensed dietician who analyzed Schmidlap's sodium intake, said people need some sodium to stay healthy, but the problem is most individuals get way too much.

The government recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, which is about one teaspoon. But according to the American Heart Association, the average person consumes up to three times that amount.

Schmidlap said she added salt to just about everything when she was already getting more than enough.

"The most eye-opening thing was how much salt is already in the food we're eating," she said.

Neily pointed out items in a grocery store to show examples of high sodium sources.

"Most salad dressing in general is pretty high in sodium," she said as she picked up one containing 420 milligrams in two tablespoons.

She also found bagels with 440 milligrams of sodium where she said the culprit is baking powder and baking soda.

Sodium in the added brine gave fresh chicken breast tenderloins 300 milligrams of sodium, Neily said. Then she found a frozen dinner with 2870 milligrams of sodium -- enough to blow your budget for the day and then some, she said.

Schmidlap said as soon as she started reading labels and eating more fruits and vegetables, she saw changes.

"I don't think I noticed that I was retaining water ... my rings fit better, my shoes my clothes," she said.

More important, Schmidlap said, is that with the help of medication, her blood pressure is now back under control.

"I feel great!" she said.