As a culture, we’ve become very conscious of carbs, fats (both good and bad) and calories… but few people pay much attention to sodium. It’s been called the forgotten killer.
Sodium is a necessary ingredient in the human body, but most of us are getting way too much. The general consensus is that we should aim for 1,500 mg of sodium each day. The average American consumes nearly 3x times the recommendation. It’s bad news, as excess sodium has been linked to:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease and stroke
- pre-hypertension
- water weight gain (when you feel and look bloated)
Because of the health issues caused by high-salt diets,
excess sodium is blamed for 150,000 annual deaths in the United States. It’s a staggering – and sobering – number. Much of the sodium we consume comes from processed and packaged foods. Go to your cupboard and grab a can of anything. Check the nutrition information. Shocking, isn’t it? As a result, I’ve found myself trying new recipes and moving away from canned and processed foods. The convenience just isn’t worth it – and nothing beats food cooked with love.
