Did you know some sodium is essential to your diet? Learn these sodium myths and facts to help you eat heart-healthy every day.

Myth: Eliminate sodium completely for good health.
Fact: Some sodium is essential to your diet.

Myth: Sea salt has less sodium than table salt.
Fact: Just like table salt, sea salt contains about 40% sodium.

Myth: If I don’t put salt on my food, I’m not consuming much sodium.
Fact: More than 75% of the sodium Americans consume comes from processed foods.

Myth: High levels of sodium are only found in food.
Fact: Some over-the-counter medications contain high levels of sodium.

Myth: Lower sodium foods have no taste.
Fact: There are numerous alternatives to salt to enhance the flavor of your food.

Myth: My blood pressure is normal, so I don’t need to worry about how much sodium I consume.
Fact: Even for people who don’t have high blood pressure, less sodium can significantly reduce the rise in blood pressure that occurs as we age.

Myth: I don’t eat a lot of salty foods, so I don’t eat much sodium.
Fact: Watch out for additional sodium in poultry, cheese and bread.

 

 

 

 

Published originally on goredforwomen.org