monthly health challenge

This month's health challenge is simple...put down the salt shaker!! 

Maintaining a low sodium diet is important to a healthy lifestyle. Your daily sodium intake should not exceed 2,000 milligrams per day.
Any excess amount can inhibit absorption of other nutrients and disrupt normal functions of your body. The following are eight dangerous health consequences of eating too many salty foods.

• abnormal heart development
• osteoporosis and poor bone development
• kidney stones and renal failure
• dehydration and edema
• breathing difficulties
• gastric ulcers and cancers
• electrolyte and hormonal imbalance
• 
  

And, don't even get me started on the fact that you swell up like a balloon.

For these reasons, I have chosen to focus on eating a lower-salt diet for the month of September. I hope you will join me. Try to not add additional salt to your food. And, if possible, cut down on the salt in your favorite recipes. After awhile, your tastebuds will adjust and you'll find you don't need as much salt as before. It's also easy to find low-salt chips, crackers, soups and sauces in the stores these days. Take advantage of these products and don't forget to drink plenty of water. Check out this article to learn 5 sure-fire ways to reduce sodium in your diet. Here's to a low-salt September!!