Originally published April 25, 2017
Your diet plays a HUGE role in your overall well-being. Instead of just focusing on fitness, also focus on what you’re putting into your body.
Are you someone who likes salty or sweet foods? Personally, I’d much rather eat a bag of chips than cookies. But as we all know, foods high in sodium can be very dangerous to our health.
A high-sodium diet raises blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney stones, and osteoporosis. According to the American Heart Association, 9 out of 10 Americans eat too much salt. Most of them have no idea how much they are consuming and where they are consuming it from. In fact, 75% of the sodium consumed by Americans is found in processed foods and restaurant meals.
Apart from that, salt is necessary for the human body. It helps control fluid balance and muscle and nerve function.
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg per day and an ideal limit of less than 1,500 mg per day for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure. Even a reduction of 1,000 mg per day can improve blood pressure and heart health.
You may be wondering what can I do to lower my sodium intake? Below I have a list of foods high in sodium that you should limit. Print it out, take a picture of it, or memorize it…either way, monitoring these foods will help drastically lower your sodium intake.
