According to Health Canada, on average, Canadians consume about 3400 mg of sodium every day – that’s more than double the recommended amount! Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. High sodium intake has also been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, stomach cancer and severity of asthma.
Sodium is a nutrient that is found in table salt and naturally occurs in many other foods, however, most of the sodium we consume is added to our food to enhance flavour and keep it on the shelves longer. Even though we need small amounts to be healthy, bad news is that most Canadians – including children – eat far too much sodium. It has been estimated that 93% of Canadian children aged 4 to 8 years exceed their recommended levels of sodium.
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your sodium intake that can be easily implemented in your daily life.
healthycanadians.gc.ca
dietitians.ca
To qualify for ekopoints, do an Internet search and send in one tip you found on how to reduce sodium consumption and include the source. How will you implement this is your daily life?
