Sodium: Will It Really Be The New Saturated Fat?

The sodium in our food seems to be the latest target in our ongoing pursuit for healthier food. Restaurants and food manufacturers will be feeling the pressure to decide whether they can reduce the salt in the foods they offer while still enticing us with tasty morsels. But let’s put all of this into perspective. How much is too much, what are we eating, and how would that compare if we cooked it ourselves?

Sodium is the ingredient in salt that is a health concern. We should be aiming for approximately 1500 – 2300 mg per day to reduce the incidence of high blood pressure and the complications of cardiovascular disease. The average American has been found to be consuming far more than this currently.

Let’s look at some examples of where this sodium is lurking. For example, you just picked up lunch from Chick-fil-A. You plan to eat Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips with buffalo sauce and cole slaw. By the time you’ve wiped your mouth clean of the last bite, you’ve consumed 2,500 mg of sodium. How about going out to Olive Garden for dinner? If you select the Chicken Parmigiana and Garden Fresh salad with dressing you’ll tally up 5,310 mg of sodium.

Now, there is an alternative to keep your sodium intake under your control. Prepare a easy, quick meal yourself.

SAMPLE DINNER MENU:

1 grilled chicken breast made with 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, 1 tsp. olive oil, and ⅛ tsp. salt

1 small baked sweet potato with 1 tsp. salted butter and 2 tsp. brown sugar

1 cup steamed fresh broccoli with 1 tsp. light soy sauce and 1 tsp. sesame oil

Totals: 393 calories and only 647 mg of sodium

That’s a dramatic difference! So while the food companies and restaurants scramble to reconfigure their recipes, you have the tools to solve the dilemma on your own.