What is the Difference Between Sodium and Salt?

Did anyone else notice the blunder in the New York Times City Room Blog of March 17, 2011, in which the author stated "City health officials say that people over 50, blacks and people with hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney disease should limit their salt consumption to 1,500 milligrams a day, and the other 40 percent of adult New Yorkers should consume less than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day."

Actually, the recommendations are for 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day for people at high risk and 2,300 mg of sodium per day for others. It is very important to understand the difference between sodium and salt because the amount consumed would vary depending on which substance you are referring to. Sodium is a mineral that is part of table salt. Salt, or in this case table salt, is a mixture of two minerals, sodium and chloride or sodium chloride.

Perhaps the following statement taken from the National Institutes of Health website might clarify the point.

"The current recommendation is to consume less than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams[mg] ) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of table salt a day. The 6 grams include ALL salt and sodium consumed, including that used in cooking and at the table. For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise eating less salt and sodium, as recent research has shown that people consuming diets of 1,500 mg of sodium had even better blood pressure lowering benefits."

We all make mistakes; I certainly do. Hope this brief commentary helps anyone who might have been confused by the NY Times article.
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If you have high blood pressure and need help deciding what to eat, consult a registered dietitian. Registered dietitians are the healthcare professionals most qualified by training and experience to help you make the right choices. You can find a registered dietitian by visiting the American Dietetic Association website at www.eatright.org and searching to find a registered dietitian. 

Spring Into Shape

Spring is a time for the outdoors, walks in the park, picnics with family and friends and fun on the beach. It is time to smell the fresh air, feel the tingling as raindrops caress your face and watch the tulips grow. 

Nothing says outdoors more than springtime. Spring brings us an abundance of fresh fruits and flowers; freedom and frolic. Oh, yes, there is so much to enjoy when springtime rolls around. Will you be ready to take it all in?

Being physically fit is an important prerequisite for the ultimate springtime experience. Start the journey today. Here are a few tips to help you get in shape:

1. Lose the weight. If you are overweight, lose the weight. Make the process as seamless as possible by making small but smart changes in your diet. A good resource to use is with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010.
2. Avoid junk food. Most likely, you know which foods are bad for you – those packed with sugar, unhealthy fats and salt. Make the commitment to limit those foods. 
3. Control food portions. If you need to lose weight, portion control is crucial. Take time to learn what an appropriate portion is and try to stay within those limits. If you eat two or more portions, just be aware that you are increasing the amount of calories with each extra bite you take. The food guide pyramid is a good reference tool to help you learn more about portion sizes.
4. Shop wisely. Obviously, what you buy is what you will eat. So, read food labels and buy only those foods that will take you closer to your weight and health goals. Avoid packaged foods as much as possible, as these foods are likely to have added sugar and/or be high in fat and salt (sodium). 
5. Pack your own. Packing your own meals and snacks will allow you to eat balanced meals and snacks without too many calories. If you must eat out, plan ahead and try to avoid fried foods or anything that would undermine your efforts.
6. Take a walk. Walking is the easiest ways to burn extra calories, improve your circulation and strengthen your bones and muscles. If you have been doing nothing but sitting on the couch during your free time, make the switch to an active lifestyle.
7. Mix it up. Do both cardio/aerobics and strength training exercises. It may take a while for you to get your comfort level up, but be persistent. Come spring, you will be glad that you did.
8. Hydrate. Hydration is one of nature’s best-kept secrets. Your cells need the right amount of fluids and the proper mineral balance to function properly. If you become dehydrated, you cells could actually shrivel up and cause serious health problems. So, keep lots of water handy and drink up to stay properly hydrated.
9. Weigh yourself regularly. You can choose to weigh in each morning, once a week or once a month. What is important is that you are consistent. Checking your weight frequently will help you to keep tabs on your progress and to tweak your diet or exercise program if you are not making they kind of progress you expect.
10. Talk to a Registered Dietitian (RD). You can find lots of helpful information on the internet. But if you are having difficulty making sense of all the information or just want personalized guidance, contact a registered dietitian. Registered dietitians are highly trained and experienced experts in diet and nutrition. You can find a registered dietitian by searching online at www.eatright.org. You can also use a search engine to find dietitian websites, forums and answers to frequently asked questions.

References

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

MyPyramid

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Read the Daily Diet Guide

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Have you seen a registered dietitian yet? Registered dietitians are the healthcare professionals most trained and qualified to help you understand and interpret nutrition concepts, and to show you how you can make them work for you. Go to www.eatright.org to find a registered dietitian today.

Breakfast: The Importance of Eating a Good Breakfast

Overview
Eating a good breakfast provides all sorts of health benefits; it is important for your overall health, promotes mental alertness and keeps you energized so you can perform your best, both mentally and physically.

Eating a Good Breakfast Offers Many Health Benefits

Here are just a few of the health benefits you will enjoy when you eat a good breakfast.

Nutrition. After a long night without food, your body is in a state of nutritional deprivation. It must draw on the reserve of nutrients in your cells in order to continue functioning. Eating a good breakfast helps to maintain those reserves. A good breakfast provides the nutrients you need for healthy growth and development, as well. If you skip breakfast, chances are you may consume too many calories during the day without getting enough of the vitamins, minerals and other dietary essentials that you need for optimum health. Your breakfast should provide two-fifths to one-third of the nutrients you need for the day.  

Blood sugar. Your body literally goes into an overnight fast while you sleep. By the time you awaken, your blood sugar drops, which diminishes your energy level. A good breakfast restores your blood sugar and gives you the energy you need to get up and go. Try to eat foods that contain a mix of complex carbohydrates so that you get some fiber. Try to avoid consuming a lot of sugar that could send a rush of glucose into your bloodstream at once. 

Mental alertness. Your brain needs glucose (sugar) to function properly. During sleep, the level of glucose in your blood is lowered. As a result, your brain might not be getting enough. By eating a good breakfast, you are able to recharge your brain, in a manner of speaking, so that you can think clearly and perform other tasks efficiently throughout the morning hours. Eating a balanced breakfast of fruits and/or vegetables, whole grain bread or cereal and a good source of protein is key. Breakfast is also a good time to get some calcium in your diet from things like milk, cheese or yogurt.

Physical activity. Your muscles need glucose for optimum performance. But, like all the cells in your body, muscle cells must have other key nutrients present in order to metabolize or use the glucose you consume. So, eating a balanced breakfast that provides a variety of vitamins, minerals and other dietary essentials is important. Avoid drinking sodas or consuming cookies, chips and donuts or other sugary and/or high fat foods for breakfast, as these foods could actually impede your performance.

Weight control. Studies show that people who eat a good breakfast are more likely to control their weight than those who skip breakfast. One reason might be that when you eat a good breakfast, you are less likely to fill up on sodas, chips, donuts and other high-calorie, low nutrient foods that lead to unhealthy weight gain. Try to eat foods that are minimally processed and that are low in sugar, saturated fat and salt. Eating foods high in fiber, such as whole grains and nuts can help you to feel full longer, making it less likely that you will fill up on high fiber foods later in the morning.

Constipation. A good breakfast that includes whole grains and other high-fiber foods will help to improve gut function, move waste along your G.I. tract and out as waste. This will reduce the risk of constipation so that you can enjoy total health.

Summary

The bottom line is, you need to start your day by eating a good breakfast. This will help you to get some key nutrients, boost your metabolism, enhance both mental and physical activity, and may help you to lose weight if that is your goal.

Next blog: What to Eat for Breakfast 

Resources

Simple Steps to Preventing Heart Disease

Overview

If you have a family history of heart disease, you may be at increased risk for developing the disease yourself. So, it is important for you to pay attention to other risk factors. In many cases, you may be able to prevent or delay the development of heart disease by following a few basic steps.

Know Your Risks

Family history is a known risk factor for heart disease. Other risk factors include obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, particularly high LDL or bad cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides. A diet that is high in sugar, trans fat or saturated fat and low in dietary fiber can also contribute to heart disease. Studies suggest that low vitamin D levels may also put you at risk.

Tips for Making Your Diet Heart-Healthy

The American Heart Association and other healthcare experts have recommended a number of strategies to lower your risk for heart disease. Here are a few tips:

Weight Control. Lose weight if you are overweight. Small changes in your diet, coupled with exercise will help you to lose the weight and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Omega-3 fats. Increase your intake of omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are powerful anti-oxidants that help to reduce inflammation in your body; inflammation has been linked to plaque buildup and an increased risk of heart disease.

Fiber. Foods that are rich in fiber play a key role in controlling your cholesterol. Fiber helps to control cholesterol by slowing the absorption of fat and by binding with bile in the gut to reduce the production of cholesterol.

Saturated fats and trans fat. Saturated fat and trans fat can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries and increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. So do your best to avoid these fats.

Triglycerides. High triglyceride levels are common in people with diabetes. These fats have also been linked to heart disease. So, make a special effort to avoid these fats.

Sugar. Excess sugar can contribute to the development of heart disease by causing an increase in blood glucose and high insulin levels. Both high blood glucose and insulin have been associated with increased inflammation. This inflammation can lead to damage to the heart and blood vessels, thereby increasing your risk of heart disease.

Salt. Eating too much salt, specifically the sodium portion of the salt molecule, can lead to high blood pressure in certain individuals. High blood pressure results when the walls of the blood vessels get stiff, making it difficult for blood to pass through the arteries to the heart. When this happens, the heart can be damaged, resulting in a heart attack or a stroke.

Summary.

You can reduce your risk of heart disease by maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you are overweight, eating a a diet that is rich in natural fiber,and eating foods rich in omega-3 fats. Avoid consuming sodas and other sugary drinks or foods made with a large amount of sugar. Also, avoid trans fats and  foods containing large amounts of saturated. fat. You should also reduce your salt intake. And finally, stay active.

Reduce Your Blood Pressure with A Low-Salt Diet

Overview
Eating too much salt, or more specifically sodium, can lead to high blood pressure and other serious health problems. For this reason, health experts recommend that adults in the US limit the amount of sodium they consume to about 2300 milligrams. But that's easier said than done, since much of the foods that Americans eat are highly processed and contain large amounts of salt.

3 Good Reasons to Limit Your Salt Intake

1. Prevent high blood pressure
2. Reduce your risk of having a stroke or other cardiovascular event
3. Avoid costly prescription drugs and the potential side effects that these drugs may have

How to Reduce Your Salt Intake
Prepare meals from scratch. When you prepare your own meals, you get to control just how much salt goes in and therefore, how much salt you consume.

Read food labels. Many commercially processed foods have large amounts of added in order to preserve the food. You can learn more about what's in the foods you buy by reading the label. Avoid foods that contain large amounts of sodium. A good cut-off point would be 7 percent of daily value for sodium per serving.

Eat out less frequently. When you eat out, you have little or no control over how much salt goes into the foods you eat. So, your best bet is to cut back on how often you eat out and be selective when you do.

Try the DASH diet. A number of studies show that the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is a safe and effective way to reduce blood pressure, without prescription drugs. This diet focuses on reducing the intake of foods that are high in sodium and encourages consumption of a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, fish, nuts and seeds.

Try the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is also a healthy alternative to the standard, high-sodium American diet.

Summary
If you have high blood pressure, you might want to consider cutting back on the amount of salt you consume daily. The DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet are smart alternatives to the high salt.high sodium diet that most Americans consume.

Note: Always consult your doctor and a registered dietitian when making major changes to your diet in the face of any chronic disease that might require prescription drugs.

World Junk-Food Free Month - October 2010

Introduction
In October of 2005, I called on Americans to set aside October to celebrate as "World Junk-Food Free Month." My hope was that Americans would begin the difficult task of shifting from the dangerous habit of overloading their diets with junk food, switch to more wholesome and nutritious foods and bring about a halt to the growing obesity epidemic.

This year, "Junk-Food Free Month," which wraps up today, was celebrated in September. But that's not the end. On October 1st, we will again celebrate "World Junk-Food Free Month," in recognition of the health threat that junk food poses, not only to Americans, but to people everywhere.

If we allow junk food to pervade the diets of people worldwide, as the junk-food industry would like, we will see obesity, chronic diseases and heath care costs rise to such an unfathomable degree that nations would be all consumed with treating the sick rather than building healthy, productive societies. We can't let this happen. We must not let it happen. 

That is why we must make the bold move and decide to quit the junk food habit. It will be hard, but what is harder is the pain and suffering, and high medical bills that result from a steady diet of junk food.

Cut the Junk

Let's wrap up "Junk-Food Free Month" today by saying "No" to sodas and any food containing 'high fructose corn syrup.' 

And let's get ready for "World Junk-Food Free Month," starting tomorrow, October 1st, with a commitment to wiping our plates and our palates clean of junk food.

Let's choose optimum health by switching to a diet of wholesome and nutritious foods.

Let's take a giant step towards stopping worldwide obesity now.

Let's do it!

Cut the Salt to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Overview

High blood pressure is a preventable disease that affects one in three adults in the US. If you are one of the millions who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may be at risk for heart disease and stroke. Taking steps to lower your blood pressure will help to reduce those risks.

Lower Your Intake of Foods that are High in Sodium

 Eating foods that are high in sodium is a major contributing cause of high blood pressure. This is particularly true for people who are said to be salt-sensitive. If you are salt sensitive, your blood pressure is likely to rise when you eat foods that are high in salt. In some cases, this increase could be extremely high, putting you at risk for a heart attack or a stroke.

According to the CDC, consuming a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grains may help to prevent high blood pressure. These foods, which are high in potassium and low in sodium could therefore have a favorable impat on your blood pressure.

Unfortunately, most Americans are ignoring the advice to eat more of the foods that can help to lower blood pressure. Instead, they are eating foods that lack the protective nutrients needed to control blood pressure, and as a result, too many people are suffering needlessly from this preventable disease. You can protect yourself by heeding the advice. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a good model for what to eat to lower your blood pressure.

Why Cut Your Sodium Intake? 

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. By lowering your blood pressure, you could lower these risks and prevent premature death from cardiovascular disease.

Effect of a High Salt Intake on Blood Pressure

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III found that people with higher intakes of sodium had higher blood pressure than those with lower levels of intake. The DASH trial clearly showed that reducing dietary sodium intake could result in lower blood pressure.

Food Sources of Sodium

One way to recognize those foods is to look for word cues, like salt, sodium, monosodium, salted, salt-cured, brine, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, disodium and similar words. Salt and sodium are your main cues. Here is a short list of foods that are likely to be high in sodium and therefore should be avoided.

• Canned soup 
• Salted fish 
• Corned beef 
• Canned sausages 
• Link sausage and other sausages 
• Hot dogs 
• Heat and eat frozen dinners 
• Sauces 
• Gravies 
• Cheese 
• Pizza 

Give Your Diet a Makeover in 8 Simple Steps

Overview

Are you due for a diet makeover? You would most likely answer yes if your diet is like that of most Americans – full of highly processed foods that fill you up with excess calories and little in the way of vital nutrients. This way of eating has contributed to an unprecedented increase in obesity and chronic diseases in this country. But you don’t have to be a statistic. There are some simple steps that you can take to improve your diet and enjoy better health. One place to start is with a diet makeover, based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans are designed to improve the nutritional quality of the American diet. The Dietary Guidelines encourage increased intake of foods that are rich in essential nutrients and decreased intake of foods that are high in calories but provide little or no meaningful nutritional value.

Below are the basic recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Give yourself a diet makeover by following these 8 simple steps:

1.    Eat more nutrient-dense foods and less highly processed or refined foods

2.    Choose foods from among the basic food groups based on the Food Guide Pyramid (MyPyramid)

3.    Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats

4.    Avoid trans fats

5.    Limit your intake of foods are high in cholesterol

6.    Avoid foods prepared with added sugar

7.    Limit your intake of foods that are high in salt

8.    Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages

Please note: The information provided on this site is for education and general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please see your appropriate medical authority for personalized medical attention.

Also, please note that the appearance of any product or service on this site does not constitute an endorsement, unless specifically indicated.

About Dr. Dorene E. Carter

Dr. Dorene E. Carter is a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant with over 25 years of experience in nutrition education, counseling, training, consulting and writing. She is founder and CEO of CHANA Project, the Child Health and Nutrition Access Project, a nonprofit organization serving children and families. Dr. Carter received her PhD in Nutrition from the University of California, Berkeley.