FitSugar

Watch Out For These Top 10 Saltiest Foods

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:46:08 PST

Collectively, we really love our salt. We eat so much more than we should, often because of high levels of sodium hiding in many of our favorite foods. A new report released by the Centers For Disease Control identifies the top 10 saltiest foods, and some may surprise you.

Paying attention to the amount of salt hidden in your food is important because too much sodium in your diet can lead to diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The recommended daily intake of salt is 1,500 milligrams to 2,300 milligrams (about a teaspoon), depending on your risk factors. But most Americans (about 90 percent of us) eat more than 3,300 milligrams a day. Want to know which foods are the worst to eat if you're watching your salt intake? Read the list below.

The 10 saltiest foods are:

Snacks like potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels
Meatloaf and other "meat-mixed" dishes
Pasta dishes
Cheese
Cheeseburgers and sandwiches

Read on for the top five saltiest foods.

15 Salty Snacks Under 150 Calories

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:34:00 PST

If you're craving something salty, don't reach for greasy potato chips. Here are 15 low-calorie healthy snacks that are sure to satisfy your salty desires.

Four-ounce snack-size container of low-fat cottage cheese: 81 calories, 459 mg of sodium
Salted cashews (16 nuts): 147 calories, 77 mg of sodium
One and a half cups of edamame in pods: 150 calories, 45 mg of sodium
Two and a half cups of oil-popped popcorn: 138 calories, 243 mg of sodium
A quarter of an avocado (80 calories, 4 mg of sodium) topped with one tablespoon salted sunflower seeds (47 calories, 33 mg of sodium): 127 calories, 37 mg of sodium

Continue reading to see 10 more salty snacks under 150 calories.

What Part of Your Diet Do You Watch the Most?

Leta Shy — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:44:00 PST

It's not exactly easy to eat healthy - conscientious eating requires a lot of knowledge about what's in your food, not to mention the need to read labels more carefully than most people do.

We should all be mindful of how much fat, salt, sugar, and calories we take in, but it's important to weigh these with your own history and nutrition goals (a recent study, for example, found that too much salt may not be so bad after all, for certain people). And that can mean that you may watch your salt intake but not care about eating that second piece of bread at dinner.

When it comes to your diet, what aspect do you watch the most?

Does This New Finding Make You Rethink Your Salt Intake?

Leta Shy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:43:30 PST

Every day new studies tell us what to avoid or what new superfood should be helping us. One thing that's been constant has been limiting our daily salt intake. But a new study suggests that you may not need to care about your salt intake.

The study, published in the Journal of Hypertension, reviewed data and found that while patients who reduced their salt intake lowered their blood pressure, lower sodium intake led to higher cholesterol and adrenaline levels, among other measurements, all of which can affect blood pressure or heart rate. The study didn't look for whether these effects led to higher rates of heart attacks or strokes.

The average American eats much more than the 2,300 mg of per day (about a teaspoon) recommended for healthy adults (at-risk groups should eat 1,500 mg a day). We've always been told that limiting the amount of salt in our diets is important, and experts say this hasn't changed - it's just that some people are more affected by high sodium levels than others. Does this new finding make you rethink your salt intake?

Sodium Shockers: Foods That Contain Over 500 Milligrams

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:43:01 PDT

Even if you aren't the type of person who reaches for the salt shaker at every meal, you still might be consuming too much sodium. If you're healthy and under 50 years old, you should aim to consume less than 2,300 milligrams of salt a day - about one teaspoon of the white stuff. The problems don't always come from the salt shaker - check out the list below to see which everyday foods pack in the sodium.

One beef hot dog: 513 mg of sodium
One cup of Italian style breadcrumbs: 548 mg of sodium
One slice cheese pizza: 551 mg of sodium
Three tablespoons of Heinz Organic Ketchup: 570 mg of sodium
Three pretzel rods: 610 mg of sodium
One everything-flavored bagel: 620 mg of sodium

Keep reading to see what foods contain close to 1,000 mg of sodium.

How to Curb Salt - but Not Flavor - in Your Cooking

Susannah Chen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:50:35 PDT

By now you're probably familiar with MyPlate, the government's new food pyramid replacement; in case you hadn't heard, based on the updated guidelines, Americans are consuming far more sodium than they should. And new research suggests that overconsumption of salt affects cognitive function. High blood pressure, water retention, and stupidity? That's too much to bear. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to cut down on salt in the kitchen without impacting the deliciousness of your dinner. See a few easy steps, when you keep reading.

Summer of Sodium: Guess the Least Salty Food

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:10:23 PDT

Summer is filled with so many mouthwatering foods that aren't just high in calories, they're also high in sodium. It's recommended to consume under 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, which is equal to about one teaspoon. Getting too much of the white stuff can increase your blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease.

It's not just the salt shaker you need to avoid, as many prepared foods contain hidden amounts of sodium. Do you know which foods are sodium bombs? Take this quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz

Survey Says Most People Don't Know Their Daily Wine and Salt Limits

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:00:28 PDT

A new survey from the American Heart Association has found some bad news: turns out most people don't know what an acceptable amount of salt or wine should be.

The survey asked 1,000 adults how much they know about their recommended daily salt and red wine intake, and the results were disheartening. Over 60 percent believe that sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to table salt, and almost half thought that table salt was the primary source of extra sodium in their diet (we actually get most of our sodium from processed and canned foods).

The respondents were as similarly confused about wine drinking. While most knew that drinking wine is good for the heart, 70 percent had no idea how much is OK to drink.

In light of these surprising findings, here's a reminder about our daily alcohol and salt limits, and why they matter after the break.

How to Cut Sodium Without Sacrificing Flavor

Susannah Chen — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:57:04 PDT

Readers, fuzzles wants your advice! She loves food and cooking, but needs to cut down on the salt. "What are your favorite low sodium products and tricks for a tasty lower sodium diet?" she asks. "I've had to get serious about this issue!"

We couldn't agree more. Just like sugar, salt has snuck its way into our diets in every way possible, so we've been watching our sodium intake, too. FitSugar has plenty of suggestions, like avoiding any foods that include salt as one of the first five ingredients, avoiding soda and sport drinks, and opting for low-sodium products. Personally, I try to stay away from anything in a can that I can obtain fresh, like vegetables or beans; those typically have tons of added sodium.

Did I miss anything? How do you cut down on your salt intake when cooking and dining out?

How Much Sodium Is in These Soups?

Leta Shy — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:05:05 PST

The FDA recently changed its recommendations for our sodium intake, reducing the daily max to about a teaspoon of salt a day (2,300 mg.) for healthy Americans. And while the Winter weather means that soup's on, that warm liquid meal is often the source of too much sodium.

Whether it's a homemade healthy soup or a canned variety, understanding the amount of sodium in these salty culprits may make you rethink your soup menu. Here are five popular international soups and their sodium content. Since too much sodium in your diet can lead to hypertension and heart disease, do you need any more reasons to not salt the pot and use only low-sodium stocks?