“Salt is one of the most misunderstood nutrients.”  Dr. David Brownstein

What one thing can you do, starting today to eat less processed food?

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col. 4:6; NIV)

I just came home from a quick trip to the nearest supermarket…and I didn’t buy anything!  Actually I was looking at food labels for the sodium content of some packaged foods. Since Jerry and I eat a diet of mostly whole foods, I’m less aware of how much sodium really is in prepared foods.  I stopped using regular table salt many years ago and always use unrefined sea salt instead.

Natural News states that “standard table salt is highly refined, chemically cleansed, and unfriendly to the human body. Unrefined sea salt, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring complex of sodium chloride, which includes major minerals such as calcium and magnesium and a complete complement of essential trace minerals.  This is the form of salt the body is designed to utilize — having been the salt of choice since humans first walked the earth. Refined table salt, on the other hand, is a modern invention, artificially designed to look white and pour easily. The human body doesn’t like it.”  I couldn’t have said it better.

A common table salt ingredients label lists, salt, calcium silicate (anti-caking agent), dextrose, and potassium iodide.  Another brand listed salt, sodium silocoaluminate, dextrose, potassium iodide, and sodium bicarbonate.  Ummmmm good!  NOT!  Why is sugar in salt, you ask?  Good question.  Perhaps food manufacturers are “playing” with our taste buds?

The average milligrams of sodium per day per individual should be between 1000 and 2500.  A low sodium diet is supposed to be 2300 milligrams or less of sodium per day.  Various sources say that Americans are eating anywhere from 3500 to 6000 milligrams of sodium per day!  On my little jaunt to the grocery store, I jotted down some sodium content of packaged foods.  One half cup of prepared Hamburger Helper contains 770 milligrams.  One half cup of prepared macaroni and cheese contains 550 milligrams.  Campbell’s Chicken N Noodle soup contains 820 milligrams of sodium per one half cup.  Vegetable beef was 890 for one half cup.  One half cup of that soup is over one third of the day’s suggested amount of sodium!  A frozen Hungry Man Dinner contained 1300 milligrams.   Eat two of those and you’re over the suggested limit of sodium for a day.  Processed and canned soups, ready-made gravies and sauces, snack foods such as chips, and smoked and salted meats are some of the highest sodium content foods.  How good are you at avoiding those?

Prayer Power
Father, we are so blessed by Your goodness to us.  We thank You for Your hand of protection and guidance on us each and every day.

Link of the Day
Too Much Salt May Worsen Asthma

Blessings on you as you make a shift toward eating more whole foods.