Pass the Salt

Salt. Everyone loves salt! We are constantly salting up our meals or ordering meals that contain WAY too much salt. Today I want to talk about why too much salt can be a bad thing.

1. Hold the Salt

• First let's talk about the ways your body speaks to you. Here are a few bodily signs that you are overdoing it on the salt.

• You can't get enough water

• If you are constantly thirsty and just can't seem to quench, there's a good chance it's because you are consuming too much salt.

• Bloating

• If you wake up and feel like you just look heavier, this is another sign you've been eating too much salt.

• High Blood Pressure

• High blood pressure is another sign. If you have high blood pressure chances are your doctor may have already suggested cutting back on the salt.

• Foggy Brain

• You could find yourself having a hard time staying focused.

• Stomach Ulcers & Kidney Stones

• You are more prone to kidney stones and ulcers if your diet is too high in sodium. If you have ever dealt with either of these salt might have contributed to the cause.

2. 6 "Healthy" Foods That Are Loaded With Salt

• Sauces

• Barbeque, Ketchup, Marinades, Salad Dressings...I could go on and on. Be careful when saucing up your meals.

• Bagels(pretty much all breads)

• All breads can be high in sodium, but the average bagel will give you 19% of your daily intake.

• Soup

• Most soups, especially canned soups will be very high in salt. An average can of soup can contain 50% of your daily intake.

• Veggie Burgers

• Lots of salt can be added to enhance the flavor of the veggie burger so make sure to check the label.

• Smart Ones & Lean Cuisine frozen meals

• Be careful if you eat these on the regular. Many of the meals can give you more than a third of your daily intake.

• Chicken Breasts

• So tasty = so high in sodium. Many chicken breasts are injected with sodium to make it taste better. Check your label on this one too, try to buy the no-salt added version.

3. Salt and Body fat

• I've been asked a lot if salt can make you gain weight.

• The answer: Salt wont actually increase your body fat, but it will cause you to retain water which will show up on the scale.

• If you're looking to slim down for an event or vacation or just because, try to limit your salt intake and you will be amazed. Your stomach will appear flatter and leaner.

• If you are looking to drop weight and haven't achieved success look into your salt intake and try to cut back.

4. Salt (sodium) and Exercise

• If you find yourself struggling to get through your workout you might be excluding too much salt. We need electrolytes!

• Don't just start loading up on salt before your workout. Here are the best forms of electrolytes for exercise!

• Hammer Electrolyte Fizz

• Saltstick Electrolyte Capsules

• LyteShow

• Endure Performance Electrolyte drops

• Hammer Heed Sports Energy Drink

• Try not to go for Gatorade, Powerade, Propel, etc. they tend to have a lot of extras that are NOT good for you.

5. The Takeaways

• We need salt in our diet, but not too much.

• Listen to your body & look for those subtle clues you're having too much or not enough.

• Stay away from the sugary sports drinks for your electrolyte needs. There are better options out there.