Sodium alert: portion sizes

Is sodium the next silent killer? Recently, there has been more talk in the media about the presence of sodium in food. Sodium (chemical name: NA) is one half of the molecule salt (NaCl) and is found in alarmingly high quantities in Canadian food.

So why should you care? Because, according to Health Canada consumption of sodium can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure. While high blood pressure may not seam like a terribly dangerous condition, it is a contributing factor towards other health implications.

The website Caloriecount catalogs the nutritional information on food labels. One label says that a can of Red and White Chedder Cheese soup contains 37 per cent of one's daily intake of sodium.

But here is the catch. The serving size (that contains the 37 per cent sodium) is only 1/2 a cup. People will often sit down and eat an entire can of condensed soup (1 cup) thus doubling their intake of daily sodium (74 per cent).

The website ScienceDaily published an article on Jan. 26 discussing the decoding of sodium in processed foods.

Sodium can also affect the healthy functioning of kidneys. MedicineNet reports that excessive sodium consumption (along side excessive consumption of diet sodas) can negatively affect kidney function.
It is important to remember that sodium is an important part of a healthy functioning body. Sodium contributes to electrolyte balance and the bodies uses sodium to operate muscles; however, consuming too much sodium can have long-term health implications.