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Salt is made up of sodium and chlorine (chemical name: “sodium chloride”).   But there are other forms of sodium in food, including baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and food additives, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrite, and sodium benzoate.    Any form of sodium adds to your overall daily intake, but salt makes up about 90% of the sodium we consume.   Sodium can be necessary and harmful at the same time……..

There are 28 different salts in your body and so your body needs some sodium for proper functioning.   Sodium helps regulate your blood pressure and blood volume, the balance of other fluids in your body to avoid dehydration, and it helps with the function of your nerves and muscles.   However, your body needs only 180 mg to 500 mg a day to function properly.   That’s less than the amount in 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Only about 6% of our daily sodium comes from salt added at the table.   Another 5% comes from salt added during cooking.   Most of the rest — up to an estimated 77% — comes from processed or restaurant foods.    The easiest way to cut down on your sodium intake is to eat more home-cooked meals made from fresh ingredients.

By far, the biggest health problem caused by a high-salt diet is high blood pressure.   On average, the higher your salt intake, the higher your blood pressure.   And high blood pressure increases your risk for stroke, kidney problems, heart failure, blindness, and heart attacks.   You can help counter the negative effects of a high-salt diet with physical activity.   Studies show that the more physically active you are, the less your blood pressure rises in response to a high-salt diet.   Consequently, researchers say if you live a sedentary lifestyle, you need to pay particular attention to reducing your salt intake.   Too much salt can have detrimental effects on the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.   According to the CDC, excess sodium can increase your risk for a heart attack or a stroke.

The National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine recommends that healthy adults limit their sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day — about the amount in one teaspoon of table salt (which is about 40% sodium).   On average, Americans consume more than 3,400 mg of sodium per day — or the amount contained in about 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.

If The Label  Says “sodium-free”,  Does It Contain NO Sodium?

Food labeling laws allow up to 5 mg per serving in a product labeled “sodium-free”.   Products labeled “very low-sodium” are allowed to have up to 35 mg per serving; “low-sodium” means 140 mg or less; “reduced sodium” means the usual sodium level has been cut by at least 25%; and “unsalted”, “without added salt” and “no salt added” mean that it contains no additional salt beyond the amount that occurs naturally in the food.

(This information is compliments of WebMD.com)

The information on these pages is not designed to diagnose, prescribe, cure or treat but rather lists GNLD products that meet the needs of certain situations.
LINK: Read about GNLD’s products here.


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Filed under: Nutritional Information • Sodium

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