Getting Rid of Sodium
If there’s one nutrient you should eliminate from your diet if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, that’s sodium. Why? Because sodium greatly contributes to the risks of cardiovascular disease. We are all guilty of consuming more than twice of the recommended daily sodium limit of 2,300 milligrams, and this can be attributed to our desire to make our food taste good. Sodium can be found nowhere else but salt, and as we all know, salt is what makes our food go round.
However, in order to promote better health and increase longevity, we have to make some sacrifices, especially when it comes to food. Thus, if you are trying to make the first steps towards better, longer health, here are some things you can do:
1. Don’t add salt if you don’t have to taste your food. Do you happen to taste salt in past or potatoes? The answer is No. But do you know that even if you don’t taste the salt, the sodium content is there, and combined with all the other condiments and seasonings you will add on your dish, the more sodium is found. Also, the salty taste can be better felt when salt is sprinkled on the dish just right before serving it on the table. You’ll get to savor every bite if you do that.
2. Go for sea salt. If you intend to use salt on your dish, why not go for the natural sea salts and not the usual table salt that you can buy at the grocery. A gram of sea salt contains as much sodium as table salt, but the larger crystals and natural flavors may just give more life to your food and help you consume less of the sodium.
3. Use only fresh produce. Sodium, in the form of salt is used to take away the “fishy” or oxidizing odors of products which are no longer that fresh, such as meat and vegetables which are stuck in the refrigerator. By using more salt, you add more sodium. You can then avoid this by going for fresh products and cooking them right away. No need for salt/brine rinsing, you also get more of the nutrients you need.
4. Stay away from canned goods. Canned goods are preserved by means of salt, and when you check their nutritional values, they have high sodium contents. Better opt for frozen foods when making your meals. If you meanwhile are more inclined to deal with canned goods, reduce the use of additional salt on your meal.
5. Shop for low-sodium products. When doing your groceries, take time to compare products and see which has the lower sodium content. This helps you find and consume low sodium meals which can greatly push changes towards a healthier diet.
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