1. Check the Kitchen
It seems pretty obvious that the kitchen would be the major source of our sodium consumption in our diets, but for most people the amount is never very clear. Take stock of what fills the cupboards, the freezer and the refrigerator. Besides the prepackaged meals, salad dressings, luncheon meats and canned goods, sodium is found in fresh fruits and vegetables naturally. One-half cup of celery contains 52 mg of sodium. It may be a small amount, but it can add up, especially if you add salt.
2. Check the Table
Though only a portion of our sodium consumption comes from salting our foods, it's a good idea to pay close attention to our eating habits. If you're someone who has a tendency to salt your food even before tasting it, you may need to remove the salt shaker from the dining table. As you decrease the amount of salt you use in a given meal, you become more and more accustomed to the natural tastes on the plate. Once you've rid yourself of the need to salt food at the table, salt can be used less and less in meal preparation. It's actually that easy.
3. Check the Faucet
Most people are unaware of the amount of sodium that comes from our tap water. It varies significantly from state to state, but the public health department in any area should be able to provide information on the exact amount of sodium in the water. Even if a home employs a water-softening system, there's still a certain amount of sodium in the drinking water, since many of these units use sodium as a softening agent. The amount is solely dependent on the type of system installed and the hardness of the water in that area. Bottled waters, especially mineral waters, can also contain significant amounts of sodium.
4. Check the Medicine Cabinet
The medicine cabinet is often an unrecognized source of sodium. Many prescription and non-prescription drugs, such as antacids, ibuprofen, sleep aids, heartburn relievers and cold medicines, have large amounts of sodium. Some antacids have upwards of 250 mg of sodium per tablet. Before taking any medication, it's always best to consult a doctor, especially if you're watching your sodium intake for health purposes.
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