Don’t Pass the Deadly Salt This Summer
Posted by Hal B.Decker on June 20, 2008 at 10:01am
Too much Sodium (Salt) can be Deadly and take 10 years or more off of your life. Most Americans consume three to four times more Salt than they need. Accumulated Salt over the years clogs up the blood vessels by accumulating within arterial walls (endothelium layer of blood vessels) helping to form plaque and other potentially life shortening blood flow restrcting blockages in blood vessels. In addition, too much Salt also contributes dangerously to blood vessels becoming more inelastic (unable to expand to accomodate sufficient blood flow) and brittle which can also severly restrict blood flow and cause dangerous breaks in blood vessel walls with dangerous complications.
So when you serve Corn on the Cob this summer, it’s ok to add a pat of natural butter, just don’t also add the extra salt. Learn to enjoy the real natural taste of foods this summer. Remember to always use Garlic powder or natural Garlic pressings and not Garlic salt on those summer meals. If you absolutely have to add a little salt as you gradually wean yourself from using salt then use the more natural based Sea Salt varieties, available at all Health Food Stores and even at many Grocery stores. Don’t settle for the very cheap and much less healthier normal table salt variety.
High amounts of sodium are present in most commercially prepared foods, including canned and frozen foods, junk food snacks, desserts, and fast food breakfasts and meals. Many fast food meals provide 2,400 of sodium at one meal. Most snacks, chips, soups, fries, popcorn, and salad dressings contain way too much salt in addition to containing harmful saturated and trans fats. As discussed earlier, many Americans eat three to five times more sodium than the recommended 2,400 mg of sodium daily. Make it a habit to read food labels.
Some sodium is necessary daily for good cellular electrolyte balance, just don’t over do it. Most people don’t have to worry about getting enough sodium daily. Your concern should be getting too much sodium that can literally help take 10 or more years off of your life. If you see the word sodium in some form on a food or drink product label, that means Salt. To help avoid getting too much sodium when you are preparing your own meals, look for natural substitute seasoning products like Mrs. Dash and other low sodium or no sodium seasonings that you can add in place of extra salt to your food. Examples are: onion and garlic powder (without salt), ginger, basil, paprika, and lemon.
Health Hint: Leave the salt shaker off the table and let people get used to the natural, delicious taste of food without added salt. Many non-sodium seasonings and flavorings can be added to make up for leaving salt out of recipes. Also, learn to read food labels to recognize how much salt is in any product before you eat it. If you have a can of soup, look to see how many servings there are per can. You may think you’re getting 600 mg of salt, but if you eat the whole small can (which may contain two servings), you may well be getting over 1,200 mg. One glass of tomato juice can have 1,200 mg of sodium, so buy low sodium V8, Knudsen’s low sodium veggie drink, or other low sodium juice. In addition, add up everything else you’re eating with that soup or meal to get an idea of just how much sodium you may be eating. A few extra seconds of better food product label reading may well easily save you more than a few extra years of living, and, if you have children, will add decades to their lives and will help set a healthy example. Learn to enjoy the natural tast of food.
Here’s to a great healthy summer and a long healthy life, Hal
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