Since ancient times, humans have added salt to food, either as a flavoring or to preserve food.
The amount of sodium in one's diet will affect the individual's health and nutrition.
A diet high in sodium associated with a number of health problems, it is because the control of sodium intake will be of great benefit.
Average sodium in the diet
According to the Mayo Clinic, the average American uses sodium in the following ways:
5 percent is added while cooking
6 percent is added to food after cooking
12 percent from natural sources
77 percent of processed foods and fast food.
From here it is clear that processed foods and fast food accounted for the highest sodium intake.
Sodium & health issues
The biggest risk is the effect of high sodium diet on blood pressure and heart health.
Hypertension / high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney failure are some of the long-term health problems that can arise due to high sodium intake.
In the body, sodium is processed by the kidneys. However, when a person eats too much sodium, the kidneys can not process it so that sodium remained in the bloodstream.
Because sodium is holding water, the volume of blood in the body increases. As a result, the circulatory system must work harder to pump blood.
Over time, this condition could potentially lead to heart disease and kidney failure.
Foods to avoid
Canned foods have high sodium content. These include vegetables, soup, or canned fish.
Wash canned vegetables before cooking to dissolve partially sodium content.
Snacks such as potato chips also have high sodium, as well as butter.
Try searching for alternative food is low in sodium.
Managing sodium in the diet
Limiting sodium intake has been shown to be beneficial for health. However, it does not mean the body does not require sodium.
In moderate amounts, sodium is needed to facilitate a variety of body functions such as muscle movement, balance the body fluids, and transmission of information in the nervous system.
The benefits of a diet low in sodium
The most important benefits of a low sodium diet is to improve heart health.
Heart will work more smoothly when the blood does not have excess sodium.