The average American consumes approximately 3,400 mg of sodium per day, according to the American Heart Association. Food preparation play an important role in limiting the amount of sodium consumed in the diet. Spaghetti squash is naturally low in sodium and is often used as a substitute for pasta, but the preparation method is important in keeping total sodium content low.
Sodium Content
Raw winter spaghetti squash contains a minimal amount of sodium per cup with 17.2 mg or less than 1 percent of the daily recommended value, based upon a 2,000-calorie diet. A single cup of winter spaghetti squash that has been cooked without salt also contains a small amount of sodium with 28 mg per cup or approximately 1.2 percent daily recommended value. However, cooking spaghetti squash with salt greatly increases the sodium content to 393 mg or 16 percent daily value per cup.
Recommended Daily Allowances
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake levels for sodium are 1,500 mg per day for healthy adults, as of 2010. Previous recommendations for sodium intake were no more than 2,300 mg per day for healthy adults and no more than 1,500 mg per day for adults with hypertension or other heart conditions, according to the American Heart Association. Children ages 1 to 3 need 1,000 mg per day and children ages 4 to 8 need 1,200 mg per day. It is important to speak with a doctor to determine sodium intake recommendations, particularly individuals with a history of heart or kidney disease.
Sodium and Health
Sodium is an essential mineral that helps regulate the balance of fluids in the body and blood pressure. It also plays an important role in muscle contractions and nerve impulses. Consuming too much sodium in the diet increases the amount of sodium in the blood and can raise blood pressure. In turn, high blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack and stroke. Limiting dietary sodium intake can lower blood pressure levels or prevent the development of high blood pressure or hypertension.
Considerations
Spaghetti squash naturally contains small amounts of sodium, and it is important to prepare squash, as well as other foods, without the addition of sodium or table salt. The American Heart Association recommends preparing food with little or no salt as a 1/4 tsp. salt contains 600 mg sodium and 1 tsp. contains 2,300 mg.
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