{mp3}680news – sodium – may 13-2013{/mp3}

We all are aware that excess sodium leads to heart and stroke disease, high blood pressure, stomach cancer and kidney problems.  We eat about 3400 mg daily whereas the required amount is only 1500 mg.

The majority of the salt we consume is in the packaged, processed foods and restaurant food.  Only 5% comes from the salt shaker!

A group of Canadians have developed an online salt calculator at www.Projectbiglife.ca. It asks consumers a list of questions about their eating habits to estimate their sodium consumption and where the sodium is coming from. Questions are based on how often you eat out; the amount of bakery products, cereals, processed meat, fish, poultry, cheese and dairy, canned vegetables, condiments, frozen food and salty snacks you consume.

Just answering the questions makes you more aware.