Healthy Magazine Holidays Issue 2018

National nutrition
experts say we shouldn’t
consume more than 2,300
milligrams of sodium a
day, which is less than a
teaspoon of salt.
Some say it is better to
consume even less than
this. The American Heart
Association says 1500
milligrams is the mark
to shoot for, though the
Institute of Medicine says
there may be no benefit
to going this low. In fact, it
may cause harm, they say.
After all, sodium is an
important electrolyte,
maintaining proper
fluid balance in and
around cells, according
to the Harvard School of
Public Health. Sodium
is also important for the
contraction of muscle fibers
and the transmission of nerve
impulses.
But the body only needs a small
amount of sodium to effectively
perform these tasks. When there
is an excess, the kidneys start
having trouble handling it. The
body responds by holding water
to dilute the sodium, which
increases both the amount of
fluid surrounding cells and
the volume of blood in the
bloodstream. This means the
heart must work harder and the
blood vessels feel more pressure,
which increases the likelihood
of high blood pressure, heart
attack and stroke.
On average, Americans eat
about 3,400 milligrams a day,
which is significantly more than
is needed.
PIZZA
One slice,
with common
toppings, can
destroy your
sodium intake
goals.
SOUP
Some canned
soups contain
almost 1000
milligrams of
sodium. Read the
label.
SANDWICH
Just one sandwich
can exceed daily
recommendations
for salt intake.
Bread, cheese and
deli meats combine
to pack a salty
punch.
52 HEALTHY MAGAZINE 2018 Healthy-Magazines.com