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Did you know that almost 80% of the salt you eat comes from processed foods like take-out, canned, or packaged meals? Salt is about half sodium, and too much sodium in your diet can cause problems in your body.
Ever notice how your ankles swell or you get really thirsty after a salty meal? That’s because the extra salt makes your body hold onto water, which causes swelling—not just in your ankles but also inside your blood vessels.
This extra pressure on your blood vessels raises your blood pressure, which can damage the tiny arteries in your heart, brain, or kidneys. If the pressure gets too high, it can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or kidney problems.
How can you stop this from happening?
- Take your water pill (if prescribed) 💊.
- Enjoy Take-out no more than once a week. Restaurants focus on making food taste good, not on keeping the salt or sugar low.
- Read food labels whenever you can! Aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day (or less than 1,500 mg if you have high blood pressure).
When checking labels:
- Low sodium: Look for foods with less than 150 mg of sodium per serving (that’s 5% or less on the label).
- High sodium: Avoid foods over 400 mg (15% or more).
Remember: 🙂 Low Sodium: 150 mg or 5%
🙁 High Sodium: 400 mg or 15% -
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