Plus, healthy kidneys are great at retaining the sodium that your body needs. Very few people come close to eating less than that amount. That’s a mere smidgen - the amount in less than ¼ teaspoon. The body needs only a small amount of sodium (less than 500 milligrams per day) to function properly. There’s no reliable evidence that eating less than 1,500 mg per day of sodium is a risk for the general population. Worried that you’re not getting enough sodium? It’s not likely. Sometimes a small adjustment can bring big results when it comes to your health! Is there such a thing as eating too little sodium? Remember: Sodium levels vary in the same foods depending on the brand or restaurant.Īt the end of the day it’s easy to tally how much sodium you consumed so you can make better choices as needed. No-Salt-Added or Unsalted – No salt is added during processing – but these products may not be salt/sodium-free unless stated Light in Sodium or Lightly Salted– At least 50 percent less sodium than the regular product.Reduced Sodium – At least 25 percent less sodium per serving than the usual sodium level.Low Sodium – 140 milligrams or less per serving.Very Low Sodium – 35 milligrams or less per serving.Salt/Sodium-Free – Less than 5 milligrams of sodium per serving.Here are sodium-related terms you may see on food packages: If your portion size equals two servings of a product, you’re actually eating double the sodium listed.
Remember to take note of the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label. For example, this includes ingredients like sodium nitrate, sodium citrate, monosodium glutamate (MSG) or sodium benzoate.
ADIUM SUPPLEMENT PLUS
Check the ingredient list for words like “sodium,” “salt” and “soda.” The total sodium shown on the Nutrition Facts label includes the sodium from salt, plus the sodium from any other sodium-containing ingredient in the product. The amount of sodium per serving is listed in milligrams (or mg). You can find the amount of sodium in your food by looking at the Nutrition Facts label. How can I tell how much sodium I’m eating? Keeping sodium in check is part of following an overall healthy eating pattern.
Most of us are likely underestimating how much sodium we eat, if we can estimate it at all. On average, Americans eat more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day - much more than the American Heart Association and other health organizations recommend. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day and moving toward an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults.īecause the average American eats so much excess sodium, even cutting back by 1,000 milligrams a day can significantly improve blood pressure and heart health.Īnd remember, more than 70 percent of the sodium Americans eat comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods - not the salt shaker. National Hypertension Control Initiative.Pets and Your Health / Healthy Bond for Life.