Some of the biggest names in restaurants are serving up trouble for many Americans based on the sodium content of their meals.

Although Chili’s wants you to “Pepper in some fun,” it turns out that more salt than pepper is being dished out, and instead of Red Lobster being “for the seafood lover in you” it may as well be for the salt lover in us all.

Whether you take home a heart attack in a sack from KFC or order a side of stroke at your Olive Garden table, the dangers lurk just inside restaurant kitchen doors.

Although sodium allows the body to hold onto water and regulates the body’s water balance, people need to consume it in moderation. The intake of high sodium levels can lead to high blood pressure, make existing high blood pressure worse and may even precipitate heart failure in individuals with heart conditions.

Based on the findings in the report, must we give up eating out at our favorite restaurants to remain healthy? Well, not necessarily. The point is to choose your meal wisely.

There are many healthier options on these restaurant menus that may not taste quite as decadent but will leave you healthy, if not quite as satiated, when you choose to consume them.