Sodium

Sodium, also known as sodium chloride, also referred to commonly as table salt, is an important part of a daily diet. Sodium intake plays a key role in many parts of the human body, and it is most prevalent and effective on blood volume and blood pressure. Many people, after a life of having too high of a daily sodium intake level, will end up with high blood pressure and other health conditions. In this case, your doctor will often place you on a diet to reach low sodium levels, which can in turn repair the damage done to the body by too much sodium.

Because there is so much sodium in many foods, particularly processed foods, it is very difficult to achieve a sodium deficiency, even if you eat a very low sodium diet. Sodium in water can even be found, which means that much of your food and drinks, even those made at home, can contain uncounted amounts of sodium. Many people with health issues are placed on low sodium diets, and so there are many foods that are marketed as either low sodium or reduced sodium foods. Among the many types of low sodium foods available, you can easily find low sodium cheese and more. If your doctor has placed you on a low sodium diet due to high blood pressure, he will likely give you a low sodium food list to stick with. It is important to stick with this list, and even incorporate low sodium recipes in food preparation, as many call for salt or will have sodium hidden somewhere in the ingredients.

Keep in mind, however, that if you are placed on a low sodium diet, it is important to monitor the exact amount of sodium you are ingesting. If you just follow food packages, you may be easily misled. This is due to the marketing tactics of many processed food manufacturers. For example, a food known for having high sodium content, such as potato chips, may be made slightly differently and say on the package “now with low sodium.” This does not, however, mean that a person with a low sodium diet should eat the food, because the sodium content may be lower than usual, but it is still likely to high. Instead, it is best to monitor exactly how much sodium you are ingesting, and take in only the amount your doctor recommends. If you have not been put on a low sodium diet, it is best to stick with the RDA set forth by the FDA.