Consuming too much sodium can have significant health risks. But 90% of Americans are consuming too much sodium in their diets. It’s tough to cut down, but it’s vital to your health.
The recommended amount of sodium is 1,500 milligrams or less; yet, the average American consumes more than twice that every day. Sodium is a major factor in high blood pressure, and a leading risk factor for women’s deaths in the United States is high blood pressure.
Some risks associated with too much sodium are:
- Heart Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Stomach Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
- Headaches
To mitigate these serious risks, it’s vital that you check the labels of the food you’re eating. The vast majority of sodium comes from supermarkets and convenience stores, with 25% coming from restaurants. So know what you’re buying and know what you’re being served — this may require some restaurant shopping.
Here’s a list of some high-sodium foods to watch out for:
- Ready-made sandwiches
- Pizza
- Cold cuts
- Bread
- Soups
There’s an epidemic of sodium overconsumption in the United States. The health effects of this epidemic are dangerous, and you can avoid them by taking simple steps with your diet to avoid foods with a lot of salt or MSG.
