While most people already know it’s best to steer clear of high-salt foods like movie-theater popcorn and French fries, you also need to be on the lookout for less obvious foods that are loaded with sodium.
Which one of these foods contains the most amount of sodium:
A.) Hot Dogs
B.) Corn flakes (one cup)
C. Soy Sauce (one tablespoon)
Answer: SOY SAUCE. One cup of cornflakes can have more than 200 mg of sodium per serving, which can add up quickly if you aren’t measuring portion sizes. A. hot dog can contain up to 700 mg of sodium. However, soy sauce can pack a whopping 1,000 mg of sodium per tablespoon!!
According to the Harvard School of Public Health excess sodium increases your blood volume and with it, the strain on your heart and blood vessels so how much sodium can you safely eat each day?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people with diabetes consume less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. That’s because a high salt intake can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease, which both worsen diabetes symptoms.
Although many people avoid using the saltshaker, they don’t realize that the main sources of sodium are actually packaged foods with added salt. An easy way to cut back on sodium is to rinse off canned veggies before cooking to wash away any residual sodium that may be used as a preservative.
LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Late Nite inspired by A Tribe Called Quest and featuring our Sodium Shocker game with expert advice.