Where Does Salt Hide?
By Lana Bandoim
When limiting salt is a requirement, it is easy to put away the shaker of salt and think that the biggest source of sodium is gone. However, many food products have large amounts of sodium that can affect the diet. From frozen dinners to breakfast cereals, salt can hide in many places. Consider the following hidden sources of salt.
Frozen Dinners
Some of the biggest sources of salt are frozen dinners. They are convenient and easy to prepare, but they tend to have a large amount of sodium. A typical frozen dinner may have more than 1000 milligrams of salt. Even low sodium versions may have too much salt for your diet. Consider skipping the convenience of frozen meals and cooking from scratch at home.
Breakfast Cereals
Most people think of too much sugar being in breakfast cereals. However, they can also be a hidden source of salt. Some cereals may have 200 or more milligrams of sodium in one cup. Most bowls hold at least two cups, so it is easy to eat too much sodium for breakfast. Try switching to plain oatmeal with no extra salt or sugar.
Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is healthy and provides important nutrients and minerals. However, most brands have high levels of sodium. One cup of tomato juice from a can may have 600 milligrams of sodium. Some brands offer low sodium versions, but they may still be too high for your diet. Consider making tomato juice at home with fresh vegetables and spices instead of salt. Switch to cayenne pepper or chili peppers to spice up the juice.
Deli Meat
Packaged deli meat often has a lot of salt as a preservative. From salami to pastrami, the sodium content can get very high. Some deli meat has 300 or 400 milligrams of sodium in one serving. A typical sandwich has several slices of meat, so it is easy to get too much salt. Try a low sodium version from the store or cook meat at home to control the salt.
Canned Vegetables
They may seem healthy on the surface, but canned vegetables tend to have a lot of sodium. Look for low sodium or no sodium canned vegetables. Also, try rinsing the vegetables at home to remove additional salt. Another option is to switch to frozen vegetables with no salt.
If limiting salt is necessary for your health, pay attention to the hidden sources of sodium. Salt can appear in many packaged and processed products.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.