May 21, 2012
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Reporter: Kitty Capelle Email

Health News: Sodium in Low Fat Foods

Sodium is a big issue right now, and if you eat prepackaged foods, you may not be aware of how much sodium you are actually eating. Foods that boast they are "fat free" actually contain more sodium to make up for a flavor loss.

The American Heart Association recommends that the average person consume less than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day. One teaspoon of salt is about 2300 milligrams, so that means, you have to ingest less than one teaspoon a day.

Two foods were analyzed that had the words, "low fat," on the label.

The first was a can of organic bean soup. The soup would, at first, appear to be heart healthy: especially with the inclusion of vegetables and organic ingredients.

Actually, just the one can of soup had about an entire day's worth of sodium in it. The average consumer would have to do the math to get this number because the can's label said there were two servings inside.

The second food analyzed was a box of low fat macaroni and cheese. The amount of sodium in the entire box was about double the daily value that American Heart Association recommends.

Dietitians recommend that if you want to eat a food, just eat the version with regular fat content. That way, you're not taking in extra sodium. Just always be mindful of your portion sizes. Moderation is the most important thing a person can be aware of when making healthy eating choices.


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