I've got some bad news for you: if you thought sugar was bad, then you have another thing coming. Although sugar is just as addicting as cocaine and causes obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease, there may be another little white substance that's actually worse: salt!
A new study has just revealed that cutting sodium intake can actually slash heart disease risk by 25-30%. That's a pretty giant number, isn't it? And the science says that you don't even have to get rid of salt completely, just cut how much you're eating—which is probably more than the 2,300 milligrams Americans should be having a day (the amount in just 1 teaspoon of table salt).
Read more ¿Qué más? Just how bad is sugar? As addicting as cocaine!
So how do you cut back on salt and start reaping the benefits of a lower sodium intake? Here's some tips:
1. Cut it out or substitute for sea salt: First of all, don't add salt in places that you can't taste it—like boiling water for pasta or potatoes. Instead, add just a pitch at the end of cooking a dish. Alternatively, switch to sea salt which, although it contains as much sodium as table salt, the larger crystals and unique flavors mean that you don't have to use as much.
2. Use fresh or frozen ingredients only: Stay away from canned vegetables and beans as much as possible, since they are often packed full of sodium. You'll save a ton of salt intake if you make your own sauces and soups and simmer beans until soft. It's a bigger time commitment but well worth it. Do the same with veggies, since frozen (unsalted) veggies don't contain the sodium that the canned variety come with.
3. When you have to, buy low sodium: If you're going to buy canned goods at all, whether it's beans, soup or even chicken broth (because we all know that nothing's as necessary in abuela's recipes as caldo de pollo), always opt for low sodium. These products are monitored by the FDA and must contain at least 25% less than the original version.
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Are you going to try to reduce your sodium intake after this news?
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