Salty Foods

“Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.”- Buddha

Salt is essential for life but like most things, salt in excess is unhealthy. It can raise blood pressure, which is bad for the heart, and causes you to retain fluids, edema, which is also bad for the heart.

MensHealth.com has published a list of 10 Sinister Sources of Salt:

10. Parmesan Cheese – the wheel of cheese is aged in a brine bath to absorb salt for 20–25 days. Then aged in air for a year or more.

9. Smoked Salmon – three thin slices contain 1000 mg sodium (half the daily recommended limit)

8. Ramen Noodles – I love Thai and Oriental foods but they frequently have high sodium content. If you eat an entire package of Ramen noodle soup, you’ve just consumed your daily limit of salt in one dish. Consider making the noodles without the seasoning packet.

7. Pork Bacon – 4 slices is 1000 mg sodium. And how about Virginia ham? One of the saltiest foods I’ve even eaten.

6. Salami – think about it, nearly every deli-meat is smoked and/or salted to preserve the meat without refrigeration. Five thin slices of salami is about 1000 mg sodium.

5. Turkey Bacon –bacon is salty regardless of what animal it comes from. Just three slices of turkey bacon contain over 1000 mg sodium.

4. Capers – these little guys are stored in salt brine. Four tablespoons equals about 1000 mg sodium.

3. Canned Anchovies – not to my liking but 7 of these little fish will put you over 1000 mg sodium.

2. Teriyaki Sauce – One and a half tablespoons = 1000 mg sodium

1. Soy Sauce – One tablespoon is nearly 1000 mg sodium

Bottom Line

Watch out for Asian seasoning and sauces in restaurants. I also find that most of the soups I order for lunch – be it Chinese Wonton or Deli Chicken Noodle – have way too much salt in them.

For alternatives to the salty foods and seasonings above, check out the full article at 10 Sinister Sources of Salt.