Now You Know: Don’t be so salty!

Sodium is a mineral that is involved in many of the key bodily processes that keep us in homeostasis. Although it is an essential nutrient; excess sodium can cause many problems and health concerns as well. In the Global Burden of Disease Study of 2010, it was found that eating too much salt kills nearly 4 million people each year. Consuming too much sodium causes retention of water which consequently causes a bodily response in which the blood pressure rises. Even just a single meal consisting of a high sodium content will cause blood pressure to go up for several hours. This rise in pressure is to push out excess fluid and salt so that the body can return to normal levels. When the blood pressure gets too high it can become out of control and lead to a plethora of dangerous symptoms such as bleeding in the eyes, kidney malfunction, and even heart failure. The American Heart Association recommends everyone consume less than 1500 mg of sodium daily, but the average American adult consumes more than 3,500 mg of sodium daily. Fortunately, there are three things you can do to reduce your salt intake and start leading a healthier more mindful life.

1. Do not keep a salt shaker at the dinner table (one out of every three people put salt on their food without even tasting it)

2. Do not add salt while cooking (At first the taste may be bland, but overtime your taste buds will change and the food tastes better)

3. Buy foods with fewer milligrams of sodium than grams per serving size (ex. A product with a serving size of 150g should have no more than 150 mg of sodium)