LPN to RN Blog

There are few out there who can resist indulging in salty foods now and again, whether their weakness is french fries, potato chips, movie popcorn or a bloody Mary. While having these foods every once in awhile isn’t a big deal health wise, it’s the salt that lurks in expected places that might be hurting you most. Many people don’t realize just how much sodium is in many of the foods they eat, and just what kind of negative effects it may be having on their bodies.

The average adult shouldn’t consume more than 2400 mg of sodium a day, but many may be doing so quite unaware of how much salt is really in their food. Take canned soups for instance. Many are seemingly healthy, touting low calories and fat but masking an incredibly high amount of sodium (after all, they have to make it taste good somehow.) Additionally, sometimes meats like chickens are pumped with salty broths like those that form the basis for these soups to improve their flavor. A forget about prepared foods. Frozen dinners, ramen noodles and instant pastas are packed with sodium, sometimes more than half your daily allowance. Even seemingly healthy foods like cottage cheese, smoked turkey and cornflakes can pack a serious wallop of sodium.

Why is sodium something you should be worried about? Taking in too much salt can have some noticeable and serious side effects both in the short and long term. When you’ve had too much salt you may feel bloated and uncomfortable. Drinking water and lowering your sodium intake can help reduce these effects. Yet if you let them continue, you may find yourself with some serious kidney problems as your body simply cannot rid itself of salt quickly enough. This decreased kidney productivity can cause swelling of the body and heart and muscle weakness. Additionally, too much sodium can elevate your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, both very serious and potentially fatal conditions.

Salt may be tasty but like most other things in life it is meant to be enjoyed in moderation. Reduce the amount of salt you eat, monitor nutritional information on packages and use salt sparingly as a condiment and seasoning. By consuming less salt and balancing your diet, you’ll feel better, reduce your risk of serious illness and maybe even live longer.