Well, I'm hoping that as this article is posted, you haven't abandoned your well intentioned resolutions. If you have, I hope a little info, fed to you at the right time (now) will shake you back to why you should really refocus and 'do the thing'.
Bottom line…we should eat right to protect and preserve our hearts and subsequently our health.
So let's refocus for a bit.
Sodium
According to the Department of Agriculture, Nutrient Data Laboratory, most Americans consume too much sodium in their diets. Per a published example of the standard daily food intake that reflects a snap shot of what our food choices might look like, we consume almost 3600 milligrams of sodium each day.
Sodium is required in the body for proper functioning. It helps the body to maintain the right balance of body fluids; assists in the transmission of nerve impulses, and influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Our over indulgence though, puts is in jeopardy for serious health risks.
The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine recommends a daily intake of between 1500 and 2400 milligrams for healthy adults. A good target goal is 2000 mg a day.
Strive to lessen your dependence on sodium. For doing so, the benefit is huge. You can avoid such maladies as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease.
Here's a short list of things you can do to control your sodium intake.
--Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. They are naturally low in sodium
--Buy fresh meat. Packaged meats are high in sodium content.
--Buy low-sodium products. Read the labels. Remember you're trying stay below 2000mg a day.
--Remove salt from recipes whenever you can. Use herbs, spices and other flavorings instead.
--Be careful when using salad dressings, sauces, relish, mustard, ketchup, and dips. They are laden with sodium.
--Avoid the so-called salt substitutes. They usually contain combinations of compounds that can aggravate other situations. Excessive use could elevate supplemental potassium intake and be harmful if you have kidney problems or if you're taking medications for congestive heart failure or high blood pressure.
This is a serious issue. When we discuss proper nutrition, it's the little things that go a long way toward health and wellness and growing old gracefully.
The next installment of focusing to maintain your new year's resolution will address fats and cholesterol.
