Sneaky Sodium

The Great Divide

It used to be that Americans in general became more and more overweight. Obesity became the epidemic that was universal across all demographics, and people didn't seem to know what to do about it. Fad diets, weight-loss pills and natural remedies abounded. Finally, people began to wise up. In the past decade, a revolution has begun. More and more people are taking control of their health, and consequently, losing weight. There is a growing division between those who are taking control and those who continue to follow the comfortable road.

The Education

While the Internet has been readily available to most of us for over a decade, many Americans are just beginning to tap into the wealth of education it provides, beyond the vast collection of memes and images of cats. We are starting to take advantage of the information that is freely available to us, and to utilize this resource in the improvement of the quality of our lives. Empowering and informative websites have become a regular part of our lives, and we are learning, once again, how to learn.

As we've become more educated about the human body and how it works, we have learned a lot about fats. As we've focused on ridding ourselves of excess body fat, the fat in our diets have come into focus. Those in marketing caught onto this way of thinking and countered with a new line of "low-fat", "fat-free" and "reduced-fat" products. Yet Americans continued to gain weight. As time went on, research brought us into a new way of thinking. Now the focus is on sugars. Many people are pointing the finger at these simple carbohydrates as the perpetrator of Fat America. People are beginning to wise up, and it is helping them lose weight.

The Hidden Culprit

And yet, with all this education and all this understanding, we are missing one of the biggest and most prevalent problems. The number one killer in the US is heart disease. This is caused by many things, but one thing stands out: sodium. Sodium is an extremely common ingredient that takes the form of numerous preservatives throughout our diets.

The Misunderstanding

Many people, upon hearing the word "sodium" automatically think of salt. While salt is made in part by sodium, it is not one and the same. When people think about the sodium in their diet, they think of the things that are salty: potato chips, French fries, meats and the extra salt they sprinkle on top of their veggies. What they fail to understand is that some of the foods with the most sodium are things that don't even taste very salty! Canned foods, boxed dinners, deli meats and anything else with preservatives have far higher sodium content than your salt-sprinkled broccoli. Even the bread products you consume have surprisingly high sodium content.

Dieticians recommend that we consume 2000 milligrams or less of sodium per day. The average American consumes 4000-5000 milligrams of sodium daily, and it is no wonder people are dying every day of heart disease. High sodium intake increases water retention in fat molecules and interstitial space. In can increase blood pressure and contribute to obesity and chronic illness.

So yes, we understand that we should go easy on the butter. We know now not to drink our calories and avoid excess sugar. We know we should exercise regularly. But it's time to get a handle on the sodium problem. Take a look at the labels on your food and you will be surprised at how much sodium you really do eat.

A Balance

I'm not suggesting that sodium is evil and should be made illegal in the US. What I am saying is that it is poorly regulated and that a balance needs to be achieved.

My husband and I decided to make a goal to consume 1000 milligrams or less sodium each day. Within a month we each dropped 10 pounds. We felt more energy and general wellness.

As we continue the crusade for our own health, it's definitely something worth investigation.