A new study out this week says Americans are getting too much sodium and it isn't all from your bag of chips. In fact, you may be shocked to see how much salt is in your other favorites.

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Apparently you can diet till your starving, but if you don't watch the sodium you may be finding yourself back at square one.

In this article its reported that their are 10 top foods hiding in sodium Heaven. And my popcorn or your chips are at the bottom of the list.

  1. Bread
  2. Lunch Meat
  3. Pizza
  4. Fresh and Processed Poultry
  5. Soups
  6. Hamburgers
  7. Cheese
  8. Spaghetti w/ meat sauce
  9. Meatloaf w/tomato sauce (or any like meat dish)
  10. Snacks; like pretzels, chips and popcorn

Bread counts for nearly 10% of your  sodium intake while 3-7 sit around 4% and chips are at 3%.

It's fairly obvious to me that chips don't have a lesser impact on our sodium intake than a hamburger or spaghetti; We typically eat fewer chips than we do meat dishes. The great thing about this study is the break down of the silent marshmallow body builder, sodium. We spend way too much time thinking about our fats and calories and pay no mind to our daily sodium intake.

The governments daily recommendation of sodium is around 2300 mg and less for people with high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. (According to the CDC, that's about half of the nations population)  If you naturally watch your sodium intake and think that you are in the clear, remember the hidden sodium lurking in packaged foods, canned and jarred sauces and soups and more. You can reach 3/4 of your daily sodium intake by 1 pm, easily.

The Proof is in the Pudding:

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of whole wheat toast
Lunch: Sandwich-3 oz of deli turkey, 1 slice of American cheese, 1 Tbsp lite mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. Plus a small bag of original sun chips and a diet coke.

At this point in the day its about 1pm, give or take a half hour. What do you think the sodium total is so far, before snacks and dinner? Answer: 1,356 mg! Nearly 1400 mg by 1 pm.

The study by the CDC goes on to say if Americans cut just 25% of their total sodium intake we could possible avoid 28 thousand deaths and save over 7 billion in health care costs a year.

This writer has high blood pressure and has learned the importance of reducing her sodium intake. I don't typically add salt to my foods when I cook them, nor do I once I plate my food. In an attempt to reduce my sodium intake, I do make most of my sauces, gravies, soups and what ever else I can. I even make my own pasta as often as I can. I am not a dynamo, nor do I think that I am the answer to all that's good for us, but I do try. (making sauces is hit and miss with me, sometimes they are good others times, not so much-buying a can is definitely easier, but making it-even if it takes a couple of tries, is healthier) See Recipe Rescue for great tips and recipes .

Reduce your daily sodium intake and drink more water. Simple solutions to feeling better, more awake, less bloated, slowly but surely thinner and ultimately healthier.

 

 

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