Calcium Alginate & Low Salt Diets

Calcium alginate is a water-soluble substance used as a thickening agent and gelatin replacement in some foods. People with conditions such as renal failure or high blood pressure, however, may need to steer clear of foods that contain calcium alginate as one of its main components is sodium. If you are on a salt-restricted or low-salt diet, consult your physician before eating foods that contain sodium calcium alginate or calcium alginate.

Calcium Alginate

Calcium alginate is the calcium salt taken from brown algae’s alginic acid. It is created by mixing calcium chloride into sodium alginate, which is taken from alginic acid. Although these elements can be viewed as separate items containing slightly different compounds, the terms sodium alginate, calcium alginate and alginic acid are used synonymously according to “The Encyclopedia of Food and Color Additives, Volumes 1-3.”

Sodium and Salt

Low-salt diets such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet restrict salt and sodium intake. Because sodium is the main component of salt, lowering your salt intake lowers your sodium intake as well. Sodium is needed to balance fluids in your body and help transmit nerve impulses, according to MayoClinic.com. Your body only needs a small amount of sodium for these functions, however. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended daily allowance for sodium intake is 2,300 milligrams, but 1,500 milligrams for people older than 50, African Americans and people with chronic diseases such as hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes.

Low-Salt Diet

High amounts of sodium is found in processed foods, canned foods, refrigerated lunch meats and frozen dinners. According to MayoClinic.com, the average American consumes more than the recommended amount of sodium per day. Consuming high levels of sodium over time can cause hypertension and kidney damage. This is why it is important to be able to identify foods containing calcium alginate.

Considerations

Read food labels carefully to keep an eye on how much sodium or calcium alginate that you’re consuming. If you’re on a low-salt diet, avoid foods that have been processed for a longer shelf life or precooked meals that have been frozen.