Transcript Sodium:
Sodium: To salt or not to salt?
Why Sodium?
What is Sodium?
Essential mineral in small
amounts
Electrolyte
Table salt – Sodium and
Chloride (NaCl)
Function in Body
Helps maintain balance of
fluids
Helps transmit nerve
impulses
Influences contraction and
relaxation of muscles
Function in Food
Preservatives
Inhibits growth of food-
borne pathogens
Modify flavor
Binds ingredients
Enhances color
Stabilizer
2005 Dietary Guidelines
2,300 mg – Healthy Adult
1,500 mg – High blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes
Average American consumes
3,500 mg daily
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/NU00284
High Sodium Foods
Frozen Meals
Tomato Sauce
Soups
Condiments
Canned Foods
Prepared Mixes
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Sodium equivalents
¼ teaspoon salt = 600 mg
½ teaspoon salt = 1,200 mg
¾ teaspoon salt = 1,800 mg
1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg
1 teaspoon baking soda = 1,000 mg
Food Labels
Sodium Free <5 mg/serving
Very Low <35 mg/serving
Low Sodium <140 mg/serving
Reduced Sodium – Usual sodium level is reduced by 25%
“healthy” <480 mg/serving
“meal type” <600 mg/serving
Fat Free Healthier?
Regular Ritz
Reduced Fat
135 mg/16 g
160 mg/15 g
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Campbell’s Soup
Regular
Low Sodium
890 mg/can
140 mg/can
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Sea Salt
Grains obtained from the natural evaporation of seawater
Undergoes little or no refining technique which allows it to
retain natural traces of other minerals
Contains same amount of sodium as table salt
Potassium chloride
Used as a salt substitute
Provides the salty flavor and helps extend shelf-life
Known to posses a bitter or metallic aftertaste
Health risks involved with high intakes
High Sodium Diet Example
Breakfast
¾ cup Cheerios – 159 mg
1 cup milk – 107 mg
Breakfast bar – 105 mg
Dinner
2 cup Cheeseburger Macaroni
Hamburger Helper – 1620
mg
Lunch
Turkey sandwich
2 slices bread – 205 mg
2 oz turkey – 680 mg
1 slice American cheese – 250 mg
1 Tbsp Mayo – 70 mg
Chips – 120 mg
16 oz coke – 60 mg
Total= 3376 mg
(146% over recommended)
Low Sodium Diet Example
Breakfast
½ cup Oatmeal – 0 mg
Banana – 0 mg
1 cup Cranberry juice – 35 mg
Dinner
Chicken breast – 64 mg
2/3 cup brown rice – 10 mg
1 cup asparagus – 5 mg
Lunch
1 cup pasta – 183 mg
½ cup marinara sauce – 525 mg
Apple – 0 mg
Total = 812 mg
Sodium Intake and Disease
Let’s look at which diseases may be
related to high sodium intake.
Sodium health links
High blood pressure
Heart Disease
Stroke
High blood pressure
Also known as hypertension
Normal 120/80 mm Hg
Pre-Hypertension (120-139)/(80-89) mm Hg
Stage 1 Hypertension (140-159)/(99-90) mm Hg
Stage 2 Hypertension 160/100 mm Hg
High blood pressure
Most people have no signs or symptoms
Risk Factors:
Age – Middle aged men/post menopausal women
Race – African American
Family History
Sedentary Lifestyle
High sodium intake/low potassium intake
Alcohol and tobacco use
Sodium insensitive hypertension
Resistance of blood pressure changes with decreased sodium
intake
2007 study, Florida, 45 people, 1 year
Goal was to reduce body weight by 7%
Restricted diets
Brisk walking 150 min/week
Salt sensitivity was tested at beginning and end of trial
Salt resistant participants were defined by lack of blood
pressure lowering after correction of obesity and related
metabolic abnormalities
Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension (DASH) Diet Study
412 Adults assigned to one of the following diets
DASH diet: Emphasize fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy
products, whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts
Typical US diet
Results: The DASH diet significantly lowered blood pressure
Long-term health benefits depend on the ability of people to
make long-lasting dietary changes and the increased
availability of lower-sodium foods
Heart disease
Number 1 cause of death worldwide
Often caused by a buildup of fatty plaques in arteries
Risk Factors
Age
Gender – Men
Family History
Smoking
High blood pressure/cholesterol levels
Diabetes and obesity
Research Study
Follow-up study previously on a previous population of pre-
hypertension adults
Individual and group counseling sessions specific to sodium
reduction
Questionnaire given 10 years later found:
Involvement in sodium reduction intervention lowered CVD
risk by 25-30%
Stroke
Blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced
Caused by a blockage in an artery or blood vessel leak or
burst
Risk Factors:
Family History
Age – 55 or older
High blood pressure/cholesterol
Diabetes and obesity
Tobacco and alcohol use
At-risk populations
High blood pressure
Kidney disease
Diabetes
African American
Middle-aged or older
Reducing Sodium Intake
What are some lifestyle changes that you
could make to reduce your sodium intake?
Ways to reduce sodium intake
Food items without added salts
Unsalted nuts, seeds, beans
Limit salty snacks (pretzels and chips)
Avoid adding salt and canned vegetables to homemade dishes
Unsalted and sodium, fat-free broths and soups
Skim or 1% milk
Low sodium, low fat cheeses
Add spices and herbs to enhance taste
Add fresh lemon juice instead of salt to fresh vegetables
Summary
Sodium has many functions in food
flavor, texture, preservation
2005 Dietary Guidelines
2,300 mg per day
Read Food Labels
High sodium intake linked to high blood pressure, heart
disease and stroke