To Salt or Not to Salt

The Fit & Healthy Friday tip this week comes in the form of an article written by my guest blogger and expert author, Karen McGreevey.

To Salt or Not to Salt

morton-salt

photo credit

If you’re like a lot of us, you love movie popcorn with butter and salt–LOTS of salt!

In fact, perhaps you grew up knowing the “when it rains, it pours” Morton salt box slogan. Reading those words on the blue-and-white box and seeing the little girl in the yellow dress walking in the rain, carrying an open umbrella and an open salt box with salt scattering from the box she’s carrying, is as American as loving hot apple pie and ice cream (cinnamon or otherwise)!

By now, though, you most likely know the potential perils of eating too much of your favorite things, like salt. So much peril, in fact, that in recent years, even restaurants have cut the amount of sodium in their meals.

Except for Denny’s Restaurant!

In the last few weeks, there have been newspaper accounts, Google alerts, “breaking TV news” announcements and radio sound bites proclaiming that Denny’s is being sued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) “for including too much sodium in many of their menu items”!  http://hometestingblog.testcountry.com/?p=3071#ixzz0MT8e6nSm

To put this into perspective and easy-to-understand statistics, according to CSPI, “the recommended daily intake for sodium is 1,500 mg. Not counting, of course, statistic-specifics if someone has a pre-existing hypertension” who would have more stringent intake restrictions. For comparisons, one of Denny’s meals, for instance the “Chicken Melt with soup”, contains 1,600 mg.

So while you’re like the salt lover who remembers what it used to be like to savor salt, you’re now taking it upon yourself to responsibly create your “new you” by cutting your salt intake. Whether it’s by reading menu ingredients when you go out to eat or by purchasing grocery items after examining the labels, or by just throwing away the blue box with the little girl in the yellow dress, walking in the rain carrying her umbrella!

So for some of us, there goes our history ‘cause when it rains it no longer pours!

Karen McGreevey, Virtual Assistant and Expert Author, specializes in proofreading, editing, transcription and general admin support services to small business owner Coaches and Speakers. Contact Karen McGreevey; and stop by Konceptuality to get a complimentary copy of her teeny, tiny primer: “Tips and Tricks to Editing and Proofreading”, and to subscribe to her weekly ezine, “On the Bright Side”.

Great article, Karen!  Thank you for guest blogging at Losing It and Loving It this week!  Looking forward to more great guest posts.

Now to my blog readers,

What are you doing to cut down on salt in your daily diet?

Here are some ides on ways you can cut down on your daily sodium intake.

 

Too much salt in your diet?

We are consuming a lot more sodium than we should these days.  It is recommended that we consume at least 500 but less than 2400 milligrams a day.  According to the Mayo Clinic, sodium is essential in small amounts to help maintain the right balance of fluids in your body.

Most processed foods are high in sodium so we need to keep a close eye on our food and drink choices.  Do you realize that many of the foods eaten these days are very high in sodium?  Here is a list of foods that you should really watch out for next time you’re choosing what to eat.

  1. Frozen meals
  2. Lunch meats
  3. Hot dogs
  4. Salad dressings
  5. Canned soup
  6. Crackers & cookies
    and
  7. Condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, etc.)

YIKES!  I have to really work on changing my diet as I still eat some of those listed above.

Today’s Tip: How to cut down on your daily sodium intake

There are many ways for you to start cutting down on your salt intake.

  • Take a closer look at and read food labels to see how much sodium is in each serving.
  • Don’t add salt to foods even when a recipe calls for it with the exception of baking.
  • Choose less processed foods and eat more fresh fruit, vegetables and cooked cereal.
  • Rinse canned beans and veggies.
  • Skip fast food.
  • Look for low sodium food varieties and choose unsalted nuts.

By being more aware of your daily sodium intake, you can really make a difference towards a much healthier lifestyle.

I’m going to challenge myself to really take a closer look at my food choices as far as high sodium goes.  I found some great healthy meal ideas, tips and recipes in Tosca Reno’s Eat-Clean Diet book.  She also has a book dedicated to clean eating recipes.

Are you aware of how much sodium you consume in a day? If you have any other tips on how to cut down on daily sodium intake, we are all ears.