Eat Less Salt; They Changed the Scales Again

Just when you thought you'd lowered your sodium intake to the right amount, they changed the scales again. The World health Organization (WHO) has recently issued new guidelines urging adults to lower the consumption of their salty favorites to less than two grams of sodium and fewer than five grams of salt per day. The WHO is also recommending that you take a minimum of 3.5 grams of potassium as part of your daily diet.

According to the WHO, sodium is already naturally found in such food products as milk, cream and eggs, and in much higher amounts of processed foods such as bacon and snack foods. In other words, stay away from those! They're certainly not going to help out with your New Year's resolution.

The current recommendations are part of an ever increasing effort to fight obesity and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. The effects of too much salt in a diet, including our favorite Auntie Anne's pretzel, can not only lead to high blood pressure, but heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

To help reduce your sodium intake, nutritionists are suggesting that you eat more fruits and vegetables as well as more potassium rich foods, including beans and nuts. Flavoring food with pepper and other herbs can also help take the place of missed salt. And reading labels to stay informed about what you are consuming can help you feel good about your daily diet and cutting back on your sodium intake.