Shake the Salt Habit

Many health organizations recommend reducing sodium in the diet for heart health. Sodium is an element that serves in the body as an electrolyte. Sodium chloride is a component of salt, but beyond salt, there are many other sources of sodium in the foods we eat.

Consider these sources of sodium in the American diet:

• One third of the sodium in most diets comes from the salt shaker. The recommendation to reduce sodium as low as 1500 mg per day means that many people cannot add salt to their food, since one teaspoon of salt contains 2300 mg of sodium -- already over the limit without eating anything!
• One third of the sodium consumers eat is in processed food. Processed foods are foods that come in cans such as soups, fish, and vegetables; boxed rice mixtures; baked goods like bread, cakes and crackers; and snack foods like chips and pretzels.
• One third of the sodium is the naturally occurring sodium in food. Most food has sodium in it because it is a natural part of living things. Naturally occurring sodium is the best choice because these foods are nutrient dense.

In order to meet a low-sodium goal, the first step is to stop using the salt shaker! For additional suggestions to reduce sodium in the diet, read part two of Shake the Salt Habit - Coming Next Week

« Return to ArticlesLearn More About Laura Coti Garrett »