Sodium is a mineral which is present naturally in many foods. Also it is added in the form of salt to most  foods that we consume on a daily basis. However high sodium foods can have many effects on our health. Learn to avoid these high sodium foods. 

If you want to be healthy, avoiding high sodium foods is very essential. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration news release 2010, an average American's sodium intake greatly exceeds the body's requirements and poses a significant health risk. A high sodium level means risk of developing high blood pressure. So avoiding high sodium foods is the best prevention to blood pressure and other related health effects.

High blood pressure is the usual cause of hypertension. In turn hypertension increases the risk of heart diseases, stroke and kidney failure.

Restricting sodium to very minute levels is a very essential part of every healthy diet; avoiding high sodium foods or going for lower-sodium substitutions, is the best option available.

These are some high sodium foods which we need to avoid.

Canned Soup

Usually a canned soup label states that the product doesn't contain a high amount of sodium. Many brands of canned soups actively control sodium content but in market some canned soups are available with 930mg of sodium per serving. Even soups that show a lower salt content on the label can contain as much as 500mg of sodium per serving. So in order to avoid high sodium foods read the nutrition labels carefully while selecting canned soups.  It is best to make your soup at home.

Dill Pickles

The process of pickling introduces high levels of sodium into foods, as salt is a natural preservative. As per the Colorado State University Extension, a single dill pickle consists 928 m.g of sodium making it an unhealthy choice. It is best to substitute dill pickle with a sweet pickle, as it contains only 128 m.g of sodium. So it can be considered as a healthier choice when limiting dietary sodium.

American Cheese

American cheese is known as a popular addition to cheeseburgers. But we should be aware that this American cheese is high in sodium content and avoiding this high sodium food is healthier option available. One ounce of American cheese contains 406mg of sodium. At 176mg of sodium per ounce, Cheddar cheese with 176 mg of sodium per ounce is a best substitute for American cheese.

Bacon

According to Washington University in St. Louis, single serving of bacon consists 1,021mg of sodium.Turkey bacon can be considers as best substitute for traditional bacon. Some brands of low-sodium turkey bacon offer a product that contains no more than 80mg of sodium per slice.

Try avoiding these common high sodium foods and for a healthy heart and healthy body. 

Image Courtesy: cheese-burger.net