View Full Version : Sodium Levels In Foods
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 13:36
I have given up on the sodium issue. Here is why, sodium is present in all foods, even in unsalted unprocessed foods. I have maintained a very low sodium diet for ten years watching both iodine and sodium levels and ended up with a goiter that required removal of my thyroid this year. And as of this year I now have High blood pressure and other health related problems that I was trying to avoid.
I reached out to several companies that were making what I felt was (out of their minds) sodium levels and did not offer low sodium products. A freeze dried popular company, Boston Market, & Knorr - Their customer service responded over the phone with me. Their answers were remarkable, The US government has decided a level of salt & sodium is necessary for life, the government recommends that adults limit their daily intake of sodium to 2,300 milligrams, and that seniors and children consume no more than 1,500 milligrams a day. The companies took that number and ran with it, a typical Boston Market dinner is 1500 mg. http://www.bostonmarketfrozen.com/Product-View.aspx?ID=4 (http://www.bostonmarketfrozen.com/Product-View.aspx?ID=4) or 60 percent of the product. They maintained that sodium while hiking is healthy and not a negative issue. :eek:
So in future I will not be addressing this issue in the food forum.
Read more: http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=366690#ixzz0Wwxa7ERB (http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=366690#ixzz0Wwxa7ERB)
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 13:42
Moutain House Pro pak
http://www.mountainhouse.com/nutrInfo.cfm?catagory=propak&productCode=50119
garlic08
11-15-2009, 14:27
When I'm hiking, I often seek out extra salt, which I never do at home. I hiked a section of the Arizona Trail near Tucson last June (I know, real smart) and for the first time actually craved salt. I finished a four-day supply of Wheat Thins in one day and licked the bag. A trail angel at a county park offered me a hardboiled egg which had been boiled in brine, and man, did that taste good! And I met a guy once who nearly died of hyponatremia on a golf course, also in the Arizona summer. Plenty of water, but a good healthy low-sodium diet, he said.
Pedaling Fool
11-15-2009, 18:43
I drink tons of water, not really into sodas or juices, so salt not much of a concern to me; blood pressure is pretty consistently ~110 - 60. I don't track salt intake.
vamelungeon
11-15-2009, 18:49
High sodium content causes edema in my hands and feet, and it can be a real bear finding products with lower sodium contents, especially prepackaged foods that are suitable for hiking. I never cared about reading nutrition labels until I developed this problem, but I read them very carefully now, and the problem IS the sodium total for the day. Food companies seem to feel that as long as their one item doesn't exceed that daily maximum they are good to go which would be true if you only ate their one item once a day and nothing else- an unrealistic expectation. Yes, you can control the sodium content by preparing all of your own food but if you must eat out or use something prepackaged it's very difficult to keep your sodium intake at a sane level.
Not Sunshine
11-15-2009, 19:20
ha - you may like this:
i left a message at the maruchan company requesting the nutritional content of JUST the noodles - without those gross season packets...when i get an answer (i left a message) i will share with you all.
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 19:56
High sodium content causes edema in my hands and feet, and it can be a real bear finding products with lower sodium contents, especially prepackaged foods that are suitable for hiking. I never cared about reading nutrition labels until I developed this problem, but I read them very carefully now, and the problem IS the sodium total for the day. Food companies seem to feel that as long as their one item doesn't exceed that daily maximum they are good to go which would be true if you only ate their one item once a day and nothing else- an unrealistic expectation. Yes, you can control the sodium content by preparing all of your own food but if you must eat out or use something prepackaged it's very difficult to keep your sodium intake at a sane level.
Very interesting post how did you find the conclusion, did your doctor help you with that or did you come to that by yourself... Only interested here is why I ask...
http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/4/Sodium-imbalance.html
I think I understand your exaspirations WiseOldOwl. Trying to understand and separate the depths of conflicting, contradictory, often easily misleading, and downright inaccurate dietary and medical info and recommendations from the info that aptly applies to our individual lives is mind-boggling. My brother who has his PHd in Nutrition says the same thing!
I don't pretend to have all or most of the answers myself and I certainly have been known to be wrong before, but I think sodium naturallly found in food is not exactly the same as salt, usually commonly referred to as table salt - NaCl - found in processed foods and added in by humans. I would assume that sodium that occurs naturally in food is a bit different than then the sodium found in common table salt and therefore may have somewhat different effects on humans. And, if I recall correctly, a goiter can form and a thyroid require removal because of other synergistic complications and primary causes other than for the sole reason of consuming too much sodium. There may be other factors involved that your doctor doesn't know about or hasn't informed you about. When your doctor told you your thyroid needed to be removed did he or she inform you or did you ask what were/was the chief cause(s) that required this surgery? This can also be true about your high blood pressure. High blood pressure can, and often is caused, by several mitigating factors not just one like high sodium intake, although that is also a primary possibility. Also, high blood pressure isn't only affected by high sodium intake.
Just my 2 Cents. Don't give up on being healthy! Keep sifting out the chaff!
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 20:55
I think I understand your exaspirations WiseOldOwl. Trying to understand and separate the depths of conflicting, contradictory, often easily misleading, and downright inaccurate dietary and medical info and recommendations from the info that aptly applies to our individual lives is mind-boggling. My brother who has his PHd in Nutrition says the same thing!
I don't pretend to have all or most of the answers myself and I certainly have been known to be wrong before, but I think sodium naturallly found in food is not exactly the same as salt, usually commonly referred to as table salt - NaCl - found in processed foods and added in by humans. I would assume that sodium that occurs naturally in food is a bit different than then the sodium found in common table salt and therefore may have somewhat different effects on humans. And, if I recall correctly, a goiter can form and a thyroid require removal because of other synergistic complications and primary causes other than for the sole reason of consuming too much sodium. There may be other factors involved that your doctor doesn't know about or hasn't informed you about. When your doctor told you your thyroid needed to be removed did he or she inform you or did you ask what were/was the chief cause(s) that required this surgery? This can also be true about your high blood pressure. High blood pressure can, and often is caused, by several mitigating factors not just one like high sodium intake, although that is also a primary possibility. Also, high blood pressure isn't only affected by high sodium intake.
Just my 2 Cents. Don't give up on being healthy! Keep sifting out the chaff!
You nailed it, my doctor was uniformed, my ear nose and throat specialist was alarmed, it had to come out as it was closing and growing around the airway. Towards the next month before removal it change my voice and was difficult to get a nights sleep. It turned out upon removal much larger than anticipated. In my mind though this operation was a cake walk compared to an Sleep Apnea operation. For the surgery folks its very different, as some loose the ability to talk on this operation. There are no answers as to how this is related to sodium, salt & iodine.
take-a-knee
11-15-2009, 21:31
Sodium intake doesn't CAUSE high blood pressure. It can certainly make high blood pressure worse, but it doesn't cause it. Inflammation in your blood vessels causes high blood pressure. The primary cause of blood vessel inflammation is SUGAR. Elevated blood glucose jacks up your triglyceride levels. It's the junk food, not the sodium in the junk food, that is slowly killing this nation's health.
A healthy pair of kidneys has absolutely no problem regulating your sodium level, as long as your blood vessels are healthy.
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 21:50
not going to argue with you TAK, I dont do sugar on any level, I actually do not like any dessert and am rare to try anything with a sugar load. Then discovered Beer has a sugar load after the fact. I have read a lot on this issue because I have a vested interest, but for high blood pressure I have to loose weight again, and I am 6 foot and 223 lbs.... and get back to 175....
take-a-knee
11-15-2009, 22:15
not going to argue with you TAK, I dont do sugar on any level, I actually do not like any dessert and am rare to try anything with a sugar load. Then discovered Beer has a sugar load after the fact. I have read a lot on this issue because I have a vested interest, but for high blood pressure I have to loose weight again, and I am 6 foot and 223 lbs.... and get back to 175....
White bread = sugar (glucose)
Potatoes = sugar
Pizza = sugar
Rice = sugar
I should have clarified earlier that elevated glucose is the overwhelming cause of heart disease and a plethora of other life-attenuating maladies. A piece of bread has the same metabolic effect as eating raw sugar. If you eat lean, low fat meat, in palm-sized portions, combined with vegetables with color (squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes(in moderation, preferably post exercise) carrots, etc, etc) then you'll eliminate the overwhelming majority of diet-induced illness.
Whole-wheat bread and brown rice can be consumed without harm IF you adhere to Zone Diet principals ( carb/protein ration of 4:3). Human beings did not evolve to eat refined carbohydrates in any signifcant amount, they affect your metabolism and health JUST LIKE A DRUG DOES. Consume them with abandon at your own risk.
vamelungeon
11-15-2009, 22:19
Very interesting post how did you find the conclusion, did your doctor help you with that or did you come to that by yourself... Only interested here is why I ask...
http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/4/Sodium-imbalance.html
Doctor. He recommended I reduce my sodium intake after a trial period on fluid pills and a reduced sodium diet got rid of the edema. If I don't do it on my own with a change in diet I'll have to go on the pills, which I am naturally loathe to do. So, I am changing my eating habits, as best I can. I can see the results- when I eat as I should there's no swelling in hands or ankles, when I don't there is swelling.
Wise Old Owl
11-15-2009, 22:40
White bread = sugar (glucose)
Potatoes = sugar
Pizza = sugar
Rice = sugar
I should have clarified earlier that elevated glucose is the overwhelming cause of heart disease and a plethora of other life-attenuating maladies. A piece of bread has the same metabolic effect as eating raw sugar. If you eat lean, low fat meat, in palm-sized portions, combined with vegetables with color (squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes(in moderation, preferably post exercise) carrots, etc, etc) then you'll eliminate the overwhelming majority of diet-induced illness.
Whole-wheat bread and brown rice can be consumed without harm IF you adhere to Zone Diet principals ( carb/protein ration of 4:3). Human beings did not evolve to eat refined carbohydrates in any signifcant amount, they affect your metabolism and health JUST LIKE A DRUG DOES. Consume them with abandon at your own risk.
Doctor. He recommended I reduce my sodium intake after a trial period on fluid pills and a reduced sodium diet got rid of the edema. If I don't do it on my own with a change in diet I'll have to go on the pills, which I am naturally loathe to do. So, I am changing my eating habits, as best I can. I can see the results- when I eat as I should there's no swelling in hands or ankles, when I don't there is swelling.
Vamelungeon, it is a very tough diet... it takes time and is difficult....
Tak you just labled everything I have avoided for the last ten years or had very limited supply...Personally Pizza was dead last as it was offered far too often for the office.
I have also found a direct link to sodium and edema. My swelling occurs at the top of my sock (where not compressed). After a hard day on my feet with a sodium intake over 2500 mg it will be noticeable. If I keep the sodium lower I can have an even harder day and not see a problem. With sodium levels up above 4000 mg (typical hiker diet) the edema will not be gone by morning. Alcohol(more than one beer) after a hard day seems to worsen the edema(Kidneys deal with alcohol first then sodium then other necessary functions)
Potassium seems to help and offset some of the sodium.
Sodium is not all the same.
1. MSG is the wost (should never be eaten)
2. Nitrates and Nitrites in bacon, hot dogs, Jerky, lower quality preserved meets (avoid)
3. Glutamates are in soy sauce, fish sauce, any fermented protein (in moderation)
4. Table salt (in moderation)
5. Sea Salt (balance your diet 2300mg sodium to 2000 calories or 3000 mg max for 4000 calories
6. Naturally occuring sodium in unprocessed unprepared food(not a concern)
Just my observations on what it takes to do big mile days and not hurt.
Continued post 15
7. Sodium Benzoate in sodas and presevative for liquidy pasty foods like hummus
I avoid but seems not to be a notable factor in edema
Since I posted PIZZA was mentioned and it deserves it own response.
Cheap pizza can have over 10,000 mg of sodium in a large which can be easily eaten in one sitting/meal. After a meal like that I can not drink enough water to satisfy thirst. Oddly enough Sodas help feel less thirsty(Sodium Benzoate)
Tipi Walter
11-16-2009, 00:09
Sodium intake doesn't CAUSE high blood pressure. It can certainly make high blood pressure worse, but it doesn't cause it. Inflammation in your blood vessels causes high blood pressure. The primary cause of blood vessel inflammation is SUGAR. Elevated blood glucose jacks up your triglyceride levels. It's the junk food, not the sodium in the junk food, that is slowly killing this nation's health.
A healthy pair of kidneys has absolutely no problem regulating your sodium level, as long as your blood vessels are healthy.
SUGAR: THE GATEWAY DRUG
The thing with salt and backpackers is, obviously, the incredibly high salt content of most dehydrated backpacker's meals. It's crazy, overkill, and there's no real need for it. Some of Hawk Vittles meals are low in salt, and there's some Mary Janes Farm meals that are good. Another good reason to eat plain old oatmeal: low salt content.
Another good reason to eat plain old oatmeal: low salt content.
No way Tipi! Oatmeal needs margarine, MSG, Aspartame, a fried egg, 3 slices of bacon, whipped cream, salt and a shot of Bourbon to taste good!
The key to tasty oatmeal is to be ravenous.
Brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg help.
nitewalker
11-16-2009, 08:24
the key to a good bowl of oatmeal is a nice amount of honey added to it. i often use natural honey in my coffeee instead of sugar...i have said it be4 that sugar will lead to alot of bad health issues. as for the salt, salt sucks!!!!
Tipi Walter
11-16-2009, 09:04
the key to a good bowl of oatmeal is a nice amount of honey added to it. i often use natural honey in my coffeee instead of sugar...i have said it be4 that sugar will lead to alot of bad health issues. as for the salt, salt sucks!!!!
On my last trip I got into a new oatmeal breakfast routine: Boil water, throw in some black walnuts with the oats, bring to slow boil, add a raw egg, wait for the thing to cook and stop before the yolk is cooked. Dang good and I can cook up my eggs w/o scrambling them in my titanium pot(and scrubbing later).
Sodium intake doesn't CAUSE high blood pressure. It can certainly make high blood pressure worse, but it doesn't cause it. Inflammation in your blood vessels causes high blood pressure. The primary cause of blood vessel inflammation is SUGAR. Elevated blood glucose jacks up your triglyceride levels. It's the junk food, not the sodium in the junk food, that is slowly killing this nation's health.
A healthy pair of kidneys has absolutely no problem regulating your sodium level, as long as your blood vessels are healthy.
Oh, I like this post. Pretty much sums up the current thought in diet and nutrition--at least by those not 'towing the company line'. Add into the inflammation problem all those 'heart health seed oils' we're encouraged to consume (high Omega-6) and you've got the problem about 80% identified. Nice post!
And then this is added:
White bread = sugar (glucose)
Potatoes = sugar
Pizza = sugar
Rice = sugarAnd I like it even more! Any and all grains should be avoided--even oat meal. That's food for horses, not humans.
As to the salt issue, before he investigated the lipid hypothesis, Taubes looked into the salt controversy and came up with this paper:
http://www.nasw.org/awards/1999/99Taubesarticle1.htm
which won for him the '99 Award for Science Journalism.
I'm firmly convinced that a 'Paleo' structured diet is best for human health.
TWS
nitewalker
11-16-2009, 11:45
On my last trip I got into a new oatmeal breakfast routine: Boil water, throw in some black walnuts with the oats, bring to slow boil, add a raw egg, wait for the thing to cook and stop before the yolk is cooked. Dang good and I can cook up my eggs w/o scrambling them in my titanium pot(and scrubbing later).
thats sounds pretty dang good. i will use some rasins with the walnuts added to my oatmeal. walnuts are one of the best nuts goin, thats the reason they cost so much. as for the egg part of the equation i have yet to bring a fresh egg while on a hike but have recently thought about it. i have the 6pack egg holder from walmart. we have hens over here and we are geting aproximately 8 eggs per day. there is nothing better than a farm fresh egg with its brite yellow yolk, sometimes double yolk....:Dpeace
nitewalker
11-16-2009, 11:47
Stress Causes High Blood Pressure And In Turn Leads To Heart Disease.. Its Like Hiting The Boiling Point. Hi Pressure....or At Least It Is A Big Factor
Pedaling Fool
11-16-2009, 11:49
The overwhelming reason so many are unhealthy is because they take in too many calories vs. amount of calories they burn. Not taking anything away from the importance of a balanced diet, but if you want to be healthy the first step is to reduce calorie intake or increase calorie burn. (It is hard to burn enough and meet all other responsibilities in most daily lives, so reduction is pretty much inevitable).
I'd be willing to bet most here have a gut and some sort of health issue. Stop blaming the food, the food industry, society or whatever else and accept a little responsibility for the problems you created.
DrRichardCranium
11-16-2009, 12:57
I have no medical problems re. sodium, I just don't like the way it tastes when therre's too much of it.
When I buy Campbells Tomato Soup, I get the Healthy Request (30% less sodium) version, not for health reasons, but because it actually tastes BETTER that way. You can taste the tomato more.
Why do food manufacturers dump in all that extra salt?
If you add too much salt, you can't taste the food as well, all you taste is salt. And it's not as though the customer couldn't add more salt if he wanted to. But if the food is too salty to begin with, there's nothing you can do. So why do they use so much?
as for the salt, salt sucks!!!!
Dunno. Been known to lick the bag.:)
Cocktail peanuts. I like cocktail peanuts spilt 1/2 with unsalted bulk peanuts at the house.
Tipi Walter
11-16-2009, 13:50
thats sounds pretty dang good. i will use some rasins with the walnuts added to my oatmeal. walnuts are one of the best nuts goin, thats the reason they cost so much. as for the egg part of the equation i have yet to bring a fresh egg while on a hike but have recently thought about it. i have the 6pack egg holder from walmart. we have hens over here and we are geting aproximately 8 eggs per day. there is nothing better than a farm fresh egg with its brite yellow yolk, sometimes double yolk....:Dpeace
I have one of those Walmart yellow egg "suitcase" which holds 12 eggs. As long as it's not dropped or jarred the eggs stays uncracked. 12 eggs will last me around 12-15 days.
Stop blaming the food, the food industry, society or whatever else and accept a little responsibility for the problems you created.
We all need to take great responsibility for our own health. We need to know what foods/additives/processing does to us physically then ignore the pronouncements of the food industry, the media and the government.
The problem is that real food cost more, takes longer to prepare and that the cheap, processed food that appeals to our tastes is so bad for us.
T-W
Pedaling Fool
11-16-2009, 16:51
Simple fact is, people (in general) are unhealthy (primarily) from being overweight and that is caused by overeating. They over eat, not because of the BS excuses you hear in the media. People over eat, not because of some urge that we can trace back to our primitive roots, rather because it's a way to feel good, period.
Look around you when you're out in public, how many fatties do you see.
I used to be one so I can talk.
DrRichardCranium
11-16-2009, 16:55
When I was visiting New York City I was surprised at how many New Yorkers are lean & fit, but if you go out to the country, there's a lot more overweight people.
New Yorkers have as much access to calorie-rich food as anyone but here's the difference: They walk everywhere. People in the country drive everywhere.
That's the other side of the equation: humans are meant to walk a lot. If you don't walk as much as a normal human is supposed to, it creates a calorie imbalance.
take-a-knee
11-16-2009, 18:16
The overwhelming reason so many are unhealthy is because they take in too many calories vs. amount of calories they burn. Not taking anything away from the importance of a balanced diet, but if you want to be healthy the first step is to reduce calorie intake or increase calorie burn. (It is hard to burn enough and meet all other responsibilities in most daily lives, so reduction is pretty much inevitable).
I'd be willing to bet most here have a gut and some sort of health issue. Stop blaming the food, the food industry, society or whatever else and accept a little responsibility for the problems you created.
A very simplified answer, in fact, simplified to the point of being untrue. Total calories cannot be ignored, however, WHAT you eat is more important the how much you eat. Refined carbohydrates are like crack cocaine, the more you eat, the more you want. The more of it you eat (unless you are climbing out of NOC with a 40# pack), the more of it your body will store. If you consume lots of french fries, pasta, sweets etc, YOU WILL BE FAT. Kids can get away with it for several years, but it'll catch you eventually unless you are part of the 20% that has a muted insulin response to carbs.
For your information:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4362041487661765149#
http://www.twirlit.com/2009/11/16/new-study-says-weight-gain-comes-from-bacteria/
This was in the local paper. I think it is the same article. Interesting.
Bet a viral link will be found someday.
Pedaling Fool
11-16-2009, 19:33
A very simplified answer, in fact, simplified to the point of being untrue. Total calories cannot be ignored, however, WHAT you eat is more important the how much you eat. Refined carbohydrates are like crack cocaine, the more you eat, the more you want. The more of it you eat (unless you are climbing out of NOC with a 40# pack), the more of it your body will store. If you consume lots of french fries, pasta, sweets etc, YOU WILL BE FAT. Kids can get away with it for several years, but it'll catch you eventually unless you are part of the 20% that has a muted insulin response to carbs.
For your information:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4362041487661765149#
It was my problem and I don't eat a special diet, but I do try and limit satuarated fat and junk carbs. However, I'm not going to debate with you on this issue, I know you can run circles around me on this one.
A very simplified answer, in fact, simplified to the point of being untrue.
This is a pretty good explanation, too. From ZIOH site:
People do not become obese from eating too much and moving too little. Obesity happens when your body is unable to mobilize more fatty acids than it stores in your fat tissue. This condition happens when the principle regulator of fat tissue, insulin, is chronically high in the bloodstream. This facilitates fat storage or "lipid trapping" which basically means that fatty acids remain trapped in fat tissue for longer periods than they should be. This has little to do with caloric intake and everything to do with the insulin response to the various foods we eat. Certain foods (such as corn flakes) raise insulin levels to create this lipid trapping environment and certain foods (beef spare ribs) don't.T-W
Not Sunshine
11-17-2009, 13:56
I received a phone call with the nutrition facts of PLAIN Ramen noodles.
In 1/2 block of noodles, there are 190mg sodium; so 380mg in a full block.
I believe the recommendation is less than 2,400mg/day for normal persons. Usually for CHF/cardiac patients, it is <2g (<2,000mg).
So a full block of noodles is about 16% of your daily sodium intake.
LaurieAnn
11-17-2009, 19:55
A very simplified answer, in fact, simplified to the point of being untrue. Total calories cannot be ignored, however, WHAT you eat is more important the how much you eat. Refined carbohydrates are like crack cocaine, the more you eat, the more you want. The more of it you eat (unless you are climbing out of NOC with a 40# pack), the more of it your body will store. If you consume lots of french fries, pasta, sweets etc, YOU WILL BE FAT. Kids can get away with it for several years, but it'll catch you eventually unless you are part of the 20% that has a muted insulin response to carbs.
For your information:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4362041487661765149#
Just ask me about this... when I was 368 pounds I ate one meal a day and less than 1500 calories a day. It's not the caloric intake that's bad it's the lifestyle, type of food, slow metabolism, being sedentary, not having more complex foods and the bad/refined carbohydrates. I'm now diabetic and I've lost over 170 pounds... but I watch both the quality of the food I eat and the portion sizes. And if I want a treat I have it on a rugged day hike or backpacking trip where I use the extra calories.
You want a low sodium diet? Easy. You cook EVERYTHING from scratch at home and as well on the trail.
It isn't as hard as it seems though. Just more thinking it out.
The US gov't is trying to get food manufacturers to drop their sodium levels by 25%. Apparently you can cut back by that much before consumers say "hey, this needs salt". The sneaky part is you can then in a couple years cut it back another 25%, and so on.
But why is sodium so high in food? Easy. It is cheap, it masks poor quality, it preserves and is cheaper than actually caring about quality.
Why anyone would consume full sodium processed food is beyond belief. If you want a cup of soup you don't need nearly 1,000 mg of sodium. A lower version of 400 to 500 is plenty and tastes just fine. (To me that is even too salty!)
As for BP and sodium? Why put further risk on your kidneys if you don't have to? My mother suffered renal failure from a lifetime of uncontrolled BP issues. Dialysis for 7 years is not something ANYONE wants to go through. It directly led to her heart failure as well.
For most people, watching their sodium intake is a good thing. With healthy kidneys your body will retain just what it needs to function - camping and hiking is not an excuse to chow down on 5K of sodium (and I know people who do). I have hiked for years on a lower sodium diet - under Dr care - and have done just fine.
PS: Now though...binging on sodium is never fun once you are used to low sodium. YUCK!!!! It leaves one feeling nasty!
LaurieAnn
11-18-2009, 11:35
From Health Canada
"Sodium is needed in the body to regulate fluids and blood pressure, and to keep muscles and nerves running smoothly. The amount of sodium considered adequate to promote good health in adults is 1,500 mg per day. The United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) is commissioned jointly by the USA and Canada to establish the nutrient reference values that are used to set policies and standards. One of these reference values is the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), which is the highest intake level that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects. Based on the IOM's UL, Health Canada recommends that adults do not exceed 2,300 mg of sodium per day."
DrRichardCranium
11-18-2009, 11:54
Consuming a little more sodium than recommended doesnt' seem to be much of an issue for people who don't have specific health problems with it.
The problem for the rest of us is: that too much salt just doesn't taste good. And if it's WAY too much salt, it can make you feel bad or give you headaches or something.
Wise Old Owl
11-22-2009, 19:34
Today I went to a typical morning diner, and we can talk about unwanted sodium in food. They served the average flapjacks with a tub of lard for a butter pat and fake corn syrup for Maple. The Eggs Benedict showed up and it was covered in fake powdered Hollandaise sauce and something called Canadian Bacon possibly from some other country. That was this morning, I hit a diner a couple of months ago and asked for the turkey dinner, I kid you not they served a bed of boxed mash with a slice of luncheon Turkey smothered in CHICKEN gravy. I asked to see the manager and he said that's the way they always do it, I was glad when I saw (out of business) So once again I don't get it. Salty poor food. I know I can make better at home. Why don't Americans understand the scam here when it comes to foods?
I received a phone call with the nutrition facts of PLAIN Ramen noodles.
In 1/2 block of noodles, there are 190mg sodium; so 380mg in a full block.
I believe the recommendation is less than 2,400mg/day for normal persons. Usually for CHF/cardiac patients, it is <2g (<2,000mg).
So a full block of noodles is about 16% of your daily sodium intake.
Correction
I checked a bag of Ramen.
Calories 190 for 1/2 block or 380 calories 1 package.
760 mg sodium for 1/2 block or 1520 mg sodium from 1 package.
380 calories is a snack at best and a days worth of sodium. At that rate a 4000 calorie diet would have 16,000 mg of sodium.
As if that was not bad enough 40% of those empty calories are fat.
Correction
I checked a bag of Ramen.
Calories 190 for 1/2 block or 380 calories 1 package.
760 mg sodium for 1/2 block or 1520 mg sodium from 1 package.
380 calories is a snack at best and a days worth of sodium. At that rate a 4000 calorie diet would have 16,000 mg of sodium.
As if that was not bad enough 40% of those empty calories are fat.
On the sodium....you only get the full amount if you use the "flavor" packet. The noodles themselves are OK sodium wise. They have some but only a fraction of the total count.
Wise Old Owl
11-23-2009, 00:33
Sabar I am so mad at myself your book has sat next to my laptop for a year and last week I was experimenting in the kitchen and its gone..... can't find it.
Pedaling Fool
11-23-2009, 08:29
Today I went to a typical morning diner, and we can talk about unwanted sodium in food. They served the average flapjacks with a tub of lard for a butter pat and fake corn syrup for Maple. The Eggs Benedict showed up and it was covered in fake powdered Hollandaise sauce and something called Canadian Bacon possibly from some other country. That was this morning, I hit a diner a couple of months ago and asked for the turkey dinner, I kid you not they served a bed of boxed mash with a slice of luncheon Turkey smothered in CHICKEN gravy. I asked to see the manager and he said that's the way they always do it, I was glad when I saw (out of business) So once again I don't get it. Salty poor food. I know I can make better at home. Why don't Americans understand the scam here when it comes to foods?
When I did my first long-distance cycling trip in the early 1990's I loved going to those Ma & Pop diners, both for the atmosphere and food. However, "Ma & Pop" (notice the quotation marks) diners nowadays are just awful. It seems like the Ma & Pop diners are going extinct...kind of a sad thought.
Wise Old Owl
11-23-2009, 19:03
When I did my first long-distance cycling trip in the early 1990's I loved going to those Ma & Pop diners, both for the atmosphere and food. However, "Ma & Pop" (notice the quotation marks) diners nowadays are just awful. It seems like the Ma & Pop diners are going extinct...kind of a sad thought.
Well that is what I was thinking... is it too much to ask for real butter & maple syrup? Turkey Gravy for fresh turkey meat? Real cream instead of half & half & cornsurup in the coffee? If you asked for an omelet and found fake bacon bits would you go there again? just saying.
appears to be far more important than this sodium thing.
In the natural world, whatever that is, salt is pretty scarce.
We tend to crave things that are scarce in the natural world, like salt and sugar and fat.
I think its a good idea to stick to a more natural diet, whatever that is.
Well that is what I was thinking... is it too much to ask for real butter & maple syrup? Turkey Gravy for fresh turkey meat? Real cream instead of half & half & cornsurup in the coffee? If you asked for an omelet and found fake bacon bits would you go there again? just saying.
appears to be far more important than this sodium thing.
All I know is I won't use anything but EVOO, real butter and real maple syrup in my house! And real bacon, thank you very much.
:banana