It’s a myth that sodium is bad for our health. Too much sodium is bad for our health. The daily recommended amount is between 500 mg and 1000mg–the average American eats three times that much. We love salty foods–most fast food, processed food and potato chips are loaded with sodium. Eating too much, leads to health problems like high blood pressure. We need to eat more low sodium foods. Here’s some tips on how to cut the sodium:
buy low sodium versions of your favorite foods, like soup and chicken broth;
don’t use salt when cooking. Many times family member will salt their food, and you’ve put salt in it while it’s being cooked;
use no sodium seasonings–there’s a wide variety these days.
don’t put salt in your pasta or potato water;
cut down on fast food and salty snacks;
buy low sodium versions of condiments like soy sauce;
use fresh meat and produce when you cook; and
if you must used canned vegetables–rinse them with water before use. The liquid they’re stored in is full of sodium.
Americans are always short on time, but cooking from scratch is the best way to get low sodium foods. Good, Low Sodium Foods choices include: lean meats, fish, unprocessed grains, pasta, noodles, fresh meats and yogurt. Stay away from processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, ham and sausage. Canned soups and vegetables, and frozen dinners are loaded with sodium. Eating out is one of the pitfalls in trying to lower your sodium. Be careful when you go to restaurants–Asian food is high in sodium and if you go Mexican, watch out for the salty chips and salsa.
High blood pressure leads to a variety of other health problems including kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. A low sodium diet in conjunction with regular exercise is a great way to lead a healthier lifestyle. We can find lots of hidden sodium in our diets just by reading food labels. For example, who knew some diet sodas have over fifty mg of sodiums in a can? Perhaps, the best thing you can do is drink the recommended amount of water per day. That way, you’ll cleanse your system of excess sodium.
For more information on where you can buy low sodium foods, visit us at AmbrosiaNewmarket.com.
Ambrosia
Yonge Street, Newmarket
Ontario, Canada, L3Y5Y1
905-898-5262
