Sodium or commonly known as salt is used to add flavor and taste to foods. It is normally needed by the body to maintain blood pressure, muscle and nerve function. It naturally occurs in foods that we eat perhaps the most common is the “table salt” used as condiment in restaurants and at home. Milk and celery naturally contains sodium and even our drinking water.

Some sodium is added to foods to act as preservatives. These can be found in bacon, ham, canned soups, and other processed meats. Like many of the elements found in nature too much of it can lead to harmful effects. A diet high in sodium could lead to various diseases affecting organs like the heart and kidneys. A healthy person should only take up to 2,300 mg of sodium daily. For those who already have history of heart and kidney disease the threshold for sodium should be lower than 1,500 mg a day.

As parents we need to be aware that too much sodium can produce harmful effects and that we should monitor sodium content we serve our children and families. Here is a list of the top sodium rich foods we need to limit or avoid.

1. Fast Foods – are very rich in sodium, examples are pizza, cheeseburgers, fries, nuggets and chips.
2. Junk foods – potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, and some crackers are heavily laden with salt and flavorings that are rich in sodium
3. Canned foods – sodium is the main ingredient used to preserve and prolong the shelf like of these canned foods.
4. Condiments and flavorings – table salt, soy sauce and fish sauces are just a few of the condiments easily available to add to prepared meals. Some people use these condiments because they enhance the taste and flavor of the meals.
5. Breads and breakfast cereals – when bread is baked sodium is added and same goes with cereals and other breakfast items
6. Butter, margarine and mayonnaise – these contains around 140 mg of sodium in one table spoon serving
7. Dairy products – some of our favorites like cheese, and milk shakes contains sodium as well

Limiting intake of these sodium rich foods will help in maintaining a normal blood pressure. Less sodium in the diet also lessens the risk for development of kidney stones that can damage the kidneys, an important organ of the body tasked to eliminate toxins and wastes. Discipline in avoiding junk foods in children will need to established as early as possible as the potential damage to the kidneys are irreversible not like damage to any organs that can heal and repair itself. Additionally people at risk for coronary artery disease should avoid sodium as well for this will only aggravate their disease by raising the blood pressure which can cause congestive heart failure. When preparing foods try not put salt on the table as this will encourage adding more sodium to prepared foods which naturally has sodium in it already.

Related posts:

1. How to Read Labels for Sodium and Fiber Content
2. How to Take Good Care of Your Kidneys
3. Loving Your Kidneys
4. Salt Addiction: Why It’s Time to Shake the Shaker Habit
5. Ways to Get Rid of Kidney Stones Naturally