"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

How to Avoid the Health Dangers of Too Much Salt

Stick to fresh foods, and fill your salt intake with healthy sources corresponding to whole grain bread.

Photo: Michael Carroll Photography.

The dangers of salt

How much is just too much?

So what's the fuss? It centers on how much salt is protected to eat, and continues to be debated. The American Heart Association recommends a limit of 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day. The FDA recommends a limit of two,300 milligrams of sodium per day. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines used to recommend a limit of 1,500 milligrams per day for most individuals (all African Americans age 51 and older, and people with hypertension, kidney disease, or diabetes), but this yr was replaced. 1,500 mg per day for individuals with hypertension only, and a pair of,300 mg for everybody else.

Common sources of sodium

What must you do?

It is best to avoid processed food. Choose fresh, frozen (no sauces or condiments), or canned vegetables without salt, and select fresh poultry, seafood, and lean meats as a substitute of processed meats and poultry.

Krewitsky recommends limiting sodium to 500 or 600 milligrams per meal, and ensuring it comes from healthy sources, corresponding to whole-grain breads and cereals.

How do about sodium content? Start reading the Nutrition Facts label. You can find really low sodium options. For example, one cup of post-shredded wheat incorporates no sodium, and half a cup of Prego No Salt Added Pasta Sauce incorporates only 40 milligrams of sodium.

Krewitsky also recommends using salt and spices to flavor foods, corresponding to cumin, rosemary, basil, ginger or dill. flavored vinegar; and lime or lemon juice. “Less salt doesn't mean less flavor,” explains Krewitsky. “It just means less salt.”

How a couple of salt substitute?

When you would like to add something salty to a meal, a salt substitute can do the trick. Alternatives are produced from potassium chloride, which has similarities to table salt (sodium chloride).

Substitutes are available in two varieties: low-sodium or “light” salt, which replaces half of the sodium chloride with potassium chloride, and no-sodium or “salt-free” salt, which incorporates only potassium chloride.

For some people, potassium chloride can leave a bitter taste. People with certain sorts of heart or kidney disease, or taking certain potassium-retaining medications, could also be told to avoid potassium-based alternatives. For others, potassium chloride is beneficial: it not only helps to avoid excess sodium, but in addition helps to lower blood pressure.