{"id":1221,"date":"2011-05-11T20:52:20","date_gmt":"2011-05-11T20:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com\/?p=1221"},"modified":"2011-05-11T20:52:20","modified_gmt":"2011-05-11T20:52:20","slug":"salt-salt-wheres-the-salt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skinnygeneproject.org\/salt-salt-wheres-the-salt\/","title":{"rendered":"Salt! Salt! Where\u2019s the salt?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jimmy Buffet wrote a popular summertime favorite titled Margaritaville<\/em>, the best part of the song is when everyone cheers \u201cSalt! Salt! Where\u2019s the salt?\u201d about the missing salt on the rim of a cold margarita.\u00a0 But what Jimmy Buffet may not have known, is how much sodium is on just one margarita rim.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Photo by Jeff K<\/p><\/div>\n

To put it in perspective, the average American eats 3,436 <\/span>mg of sodium every day<\/strong>, which is greater than double the American Heart Association\u2019s recommendation of limiting your sodium intake to 1,500 <\/span>mg per day!<\/strong>\u00a0 The 600 mg of sodium on each margarita mug, definitely will not help the situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Salt comes in many forms, including table salt, sodium, sodium chloride, sea salt, popcorn salt, and kosher salt.\u00a0 All of these salts are loaded with sodium. \u00a0Just a pinch (1\/4 tsp) of salt has 610 mg of sodium. A \u00bd teaspoon provides 1,219 mg of sodium. In fact, 1 teaspoon has a whopping 2,438 mg of sodium, easily more than\u00a0enough for the day!\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best thing you can do to help you and your family lower your risk of high blood pressure is to ditch the salt shaker.\u00a0 One study found that for every 400 mg of sodium eliminated<\/span> from the American diet daily, would result in 200,000-250,000 less cases of heart disease <\/span>and death over the next decade.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, where\u2019s the salt?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Photo by Krissen<\/p><\/div>\n

Sodium can also be found in processed foods, so be sure to check the labels.\u00a0 Choose low sodium and salt free foods when available.\u00a0 If lower sodium versions are not available, try to choose foods with the lowest sodium content.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A good rule of thumb is to try to make meals with less than 300 mg of\u00a0sodium per meal.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Watch out for these common salty culprits\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BOXES<\/span>:<\/strong> including rice-a-roni, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, frozen pizzas, dry soup mix, stuffing mix, hamburger helper, pot pies, crackers, and TV dinners<\/p>\n

CANS<\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0 including soups, vegetables, chili, spaghettiOs, gravy<\/p>\n

BAGS<\/span>:\u00a0 <\/strong>salty snacks including chips, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, processed meats including lunch meats, sausage, bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni, and processed cheese such as American cheese slices<\/p>\n

JARS<\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0 including soy sauce, ketchup, barbeque sauce, vegetable juice, spaghetti sauce, pickles, hot sauce, chili sauce, sauerkraut, olives, salad dressing<\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s fast food sodium facts: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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