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.