This is in response to a request I received for information on sodium.  Basically, the new recommendations are for no more than 1500 mg per day.  This new recommendation was made because studies have shown that decreasing your sodium intake can result in lower blood pressure, help control hypertension and can help to prevent cardiovascular disease. 

 

 

Now, is this easy?  No way!  Most processed foods and restaurant foods contain high amounts of sodium.  

 

 

1 tsp. of salt contains 2300 mg so you can see why a daily amount of less than 1500 mg is hard.  

 

 

Now, until food manufacturers and restaurants start lowering sodium amounts in food this may be hard to accomplish.  Here are my recommendations:  if you are over 51 and/or have high or close to high blood pressure I would find every way I can to avoid most processed foods and ask that restaurants leave the salt out of your food.  Also, don’t add any extra salt to your food.

 

Now, this goes for everyone- buy and make mostly non-processed foods.  Use seasoning and spices that do not contain salt (i.e., cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic, cumin,  curry, I could go on and on....).  Also use fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro and basil for flavorings.  When using salt, add it to the entire recipe and don't add any extra salt to your food.  

 

Even when you exercise and sweat a lot you usually only need to replace about 180mg/day, which is not much at all so don't use exercise as an excuse to "salt up" your food.  

 

 

Good luck!  Once you start cutting out some of the salt, you may find that your desire for salt starts to decrease (I find the same is true of sugar). 

 

Anything you’d like to hear about?  Let me know!