Sodium
A diet high in sodium can contribute to serious health problems–like high blood pressure–so it’s important to keep your intake in check. Watch this video to learn more about sodium.
Featured Expert: McKittrick, Martha, RD
Transcript
Salt is a great spice; it perks up the flavor of any dish. But it’s usually over the top in prepared and packaged food. And you don’t need more than 1,500 milligrams a day, even though most Americans take in 3,500 milligrams daily!
Excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, a very common complication of diabetes, so it’s smart to work with your doctor to figure out what YOUR daily limit should be. And even if you aren’t using the salt shaker, I bet you are taking in more sodium than you think.
Up to 75% of our sodium intake comes from processed and restaurant foods. Unfortunately, keeping tabs on your intake can be tricky since many common foods-like deli meats, cheese, pastas, snacks, canned foods and even ice cream-are high in sodium. But, do your best. Read the nutrition labels on all packaged foods, and whenever possible choose fresh foods – no sodium added! For example, if a pasta dish calls for tomatoes, use FRESH tomatoes-not canned ones. Or, if soup is a MUST for dinner, choose a lower sodium option -or even better, make your own!
Last Modified: 2014-04-01
Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos
