"The Salty Facts"

todaysseniorsnetwork.com

Today I want to talk to you about one instance where you can literally have too much of a good thing. Salt. Containing the ingredient sodium, salt is actually very good for our bodies when consumed in moderation. Sodium helps the body to balance its fluid absorption and also works to help muscles and nerves to perform their functions effectively. In short, we do need the stuff in our daily diets. About a teaspoon or so every day is probably the healthiest amount of us to intake on a daily basis.


So where’s the problem? And why avoid the salt anyway? For starters, too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, an increased risk of heart disease, kidney problems, and stroke. Additionally, it also causes water retention which can make you feel and look bloated – not so nice when you are working hard trying to lose those extra pounds, or even trying to maintain your weight levels.

Ah ha. Well the problem lies in the fact that even when we are careful about the amount of salt used in our own kitchens, it is not always possible to know the salt content of other foods. In fact, you would be surprised to discover the unexpected places we can find this tasty fiend.

Breakfast cereal: always read the label. Some brands of corn flakes can contain up to 340mg of sodium per cup serving! And if need be, buy a sodium-free option so that you can enjoy your morning meal without worrying about upping your salt intake.

Soups: they may taste the nicest on a cold winter day but those packaged soups promising health and fitness usually come loaded with sodium. Again, check your labels twice before you decide you want soup for lunch every day. And if so, make it a home cooked option!

Sauces: ketchup, chilly sauce, teriyaki, mustard, sweet sauce, even your mum’s home made pickle all tend to contain huge amounts of sodium so watch the general amount of dousing you do on a regular basis. Looking for an option to make your meal more interesting? Try a little lemon or even some vinegar.

Nuts: although nuts are generally a great choice when you are looking to carry a healthy snack on the go, buyer beware. Some of the packaged nuts sold in the stores have a ginornous amount of sodium in them, literally making it a health hazard to eat too much of them! So next time, just look for the label that says ‘low-sodium” or even better, buy the unsalted variety and munch away :)

Other “goodies” you would be smart to watch out for when it comes to the salt factor include all your regular potato chips, baked snacks, pre-cooked meals like instant noodles and “ready to eat” foods of any kind!