Managing sodium levels in your diet can be tricky but preparing your own food and sticking to fresh foods is a great strategy. On average Americans consume 1.5 teaspoons of salt per day that far exceeds the amount our bodies require. I am a member of the Barley Lovers club for a lot of reasons but one is it is a very low sodium food.
Managing Sodium levels in your diet
The human body needs only a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles, and maintain the proper balance of water and minerals. Approximately 500 mg per day of sodium is all that is necessary to maintain our vital functions. Too much or too little sodium can have negative health effects. Too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone. Most Americans consume at least 1.5 teaspoons of salt per day, or about 3400 mg of sodium, which contains far more than our bodies need.
Fresh, unprocessed foods include:
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables (both starchy and non-starchy)
- Dried beans, peas, and vegetables (buying dried beans, peas, and beans is best considering that canning adds a significant amount of sodium)
- Whole grain foods prepared without salt like brown rice, wild rice, oats, quinoa, popcorn, and whole grain barley
- Unsalted nuts and seeds
- Most fresh or frozen (not processed) cuts of meat, poultry and fish without added seawater or saline
For more info
Low, Very Low and Sodium Free. List of veggies courtesy of Have A Plant
Mushroom Marsala with Barley
