In article >,
KenK > wrote:

> I've always read the nutrition labels for fat content but now I've
> started looking at the sodium content and have been horrified! Looks
> like there is hardly any canned or otherwise prepared food that does not
> have high sodium. (Everyone but me probably already knew that.) Just a
> couple of examples that surprised me - burrito-sized low-fat tortilla,
> 500 mg., one-half cup fat-free refried beans, 500 mg., ounce of cheddar,
> 170 mg. No more bean burritos. Even cheese has sodium. I had no idea.
> One cup raisin bran, 370 mg. Evidently I'm going to have to start using
> more fresh or frozen (or does it have sodium added too? I'll have to
> check.) produce rather than most canned stuff, and stop eating a lot of
> stuff I don't wish to prepare myself - like tortillas, refried beans and
> raisin bran. I've lately been drinking a glass of vegetable juice with
> meals - no more - back to water. Trying to stay at 2500 mg. or less per
> day is going to be very difficult. Trouble is, knowing me, a 74-year-old
> bachelor, I'm very set in my habits and will probably soon go back to my
> sinful ways. Though I have cut way back on fat for many years now, maybe
> I'll surprise myself.
>
> Ken

Processed foods are nearly always high in sodium. Canned veggies are
generally a major villain for being high in sodium.

Fortunately, around here, there are good selection of "no salt added"
canned veggies to include corn, peas, spinach, green beans and tomatoes.

They are actually better in texture and flavor (imho) and the price is
the same.

Fresh or fresh frozen are better bets.

I went low sodium about 16 years ago. Goal is less than 2,000 mg. per
day. Track it for awhile until you get used to it. Takes usually about
2 weeks of "cold turkey" low salt to lose your taste for it is all!

The drawback is that you will get sensitive to it and it makes it hard
to eat out. <g> I cannot stand to eat luncheon meats now and bacon is
even difficult sometimes depending on the brand.

On the up-side, you will discover a whole new subtle taste in foods.
Food will taste better! It's almost like quitting smoking for some
people.

Cheers!
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous