Who hasn’t added a dash of salt to their meal? Salt provides that special flair of flavor that we’ve come to love and crave when it comes to our favorite foods, as well as preparing them. However, doctors are now saying that if we don’t watch our sodium intake, we could be putting ourselves in some serious trouble. Find out what the fuss is about and how you can keep yourself safe.

Most people believe that if they aren’t prone to high blood pressure or any other type of health condition, then they don’t need to worry about what they eat. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Did you know that the concern about the general public’s sodium intake has gotten so bad that the American Medical Association has asked the FDA to remove sodium from its list of food additives that were once thought of as safe? According to health experts, the decision was made in order to prevent people from putting themselves at risk for future health problems by avoiding years of a high-salt diet. But is it really that serious?

Sodium is a mineral, of which regular table salt is made up. In addition to salt, sodium can also be found in fish, poultry, eggs, meat, milk and cheese. But the human body only needs a small amount of sodium daily. The problem is - many of us tend to go overboard on the salt, causing the body to have excessive amounts of sodium in our system. High blood pressure is directly related to those who have high sodium intake. Other symptoms that can occur due to too much sodium intake include fluid retention and the uncomfortable swelling of the hands and feet.

Doctors recommend consuming no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Unfortunately, the average person consumes close to 4,000 mg a day, according to the latest government surveys.

In order to avoid high sodium intake, check out the following tips to ensure that you and your family aren’t putting yourselves at risk:

·    When purchasing products at the grocery store, be sure to read the label. Products labeled “low sodium” and “very low sodium” are your best bets. Products marked “reduced sodium” or “less sodium” should be double checked, since this most likely means it contains 25% less than the original product - this doesn’t mean that the new version isn’t high in sodium, however.

·    When grocery shopping, single-food items that contain 300 mg or less of sodium per serving and whole meals with 600 mg or less per serving are ideal.

·    Buy fresh foods whenever you can. Processed foods contain some of the highest amounts of sodium.

·    When using canned vegetables and beans, be sure to drain, rinse and repeat this process in order to eliminate the large amounts of salt water they are contained in.

·    Add low-sodium foods into your next meal, such as grilled chicken, steamed fresh vegetables or tofu if you are planning on having a meal that is naturally high in sodium. This helps to balance everything out while allowing you to eat your favorite foods.

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