Sodium
What are the culprits in your diet?
Your doctor has given you a stern warning – cut down the sodium in your diet! So you start adding just a pinch of salt to your vegetables at dinner time. You think you’ve cut the sodium in your diet in half right?
Wrong!
Unbeknownst to you, the processed foods in your diet contribute a whopping 77 percent more sodium to your daily diet – and that’s even before you added that pinch of salt!
True, your body does require a certain amount of sodium to function properly. Essential sodium maintains the fluid levels in your body by replacing vital electrolytes after you sweat them out during rigorous activity. It also helps muscles relax and contract, and it aids kidney function. However, when you consume too much sodium, the body begins to store it in your bloodstream, making your heart and kidneys work harder – which can eventually result in kidney or heart disease.
According to the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, the sodium level for an average healthy adult should not exceed 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams per day; less if you are over 50 years of age, if you have diabetes or an existing heart or kidney condition.
Keep your eyes peeled for the following sodium-rich culprits:
- Processed foods, such as crackers, chips, pickles, lunch meats, canned vegetables and soup.
- Condiments, such as margarine, butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, pasta sauces, soy sauces and dressings.
- Meats, especially red meats, bacon and ham – they tend to be higher in sodium.
So how do you cut the sodium in your diet? Consume a diet largely made up of fresh foods.
