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Low Sodium Diet
Sodium is essential to the body because it helps to regulate fluid balance,
but many health problems can result from too much of it. There are many benefits
of a low sodium diet.
Sodium comes from a variety of sources. Processed food and prepared foods as
well as baking soda, some seasonings, antacids, some medicines and condiments
can contain large amounts of sodium and therefore can be detrimental to someone
on a low sodium diet.
According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, the
human adult needs between 500 and 1000 milligrams of sodium per day, so a daily
sodium intake between 1,100 and 3,300 milligrams is considered adequate.
The amount of sodium for a low sodium diet should be about 1000 milligrams
per day. If you are wondering how many mg of salt is considered low sodium diet
- 1000mg of sodium is equal to 1/2 a teaspoon of table salt.
Low sodium diets may reduce high blood pressure in some people. A low sodium
diet can also decrease the likelihood of heart or kidney disease and stroke.
A low sodium low colesterol diet, combined with exercise is a good way to
decrease blood pressure.
Anyone attempting to begin a low sodium diet will have to revise the way that
they cook their food. Store-bought condiments like ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce,
relish and salad dressing are all very high in sodium can be a problem for anyone
adopting the low sodium diet.
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