Tea Time: Electrolytes Take 4 – Sodium
- Roles in the body
- Fluid balance
- Send nerve impulses
- muscle contraction
- blood pressure (salt sensitive)
- Recommended amount
- 2300mg (average intake is 3400mg)
- 1500mg?
- Sources
- Salted/cured meats, cold cuts
- Frozen dinners, pizza, burritos, etc
- Canned foods – raviolis, chili, soups
- Breads/rolls
- Cheese
- Savory snacks
- Fast food/restaurant food
- Ways to decrease intake
- fresh foods vs processed
- low-sodium options (frozen foods, canned foods, restaurant foods)
- avoid or limit sauces when out
- choose smaller portions​
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/…/Choose-Foods-Low-in-Sodium.pdf