Well, here they are. Some are obvious, and some not so obvious, but if we're cutting down our sodium intake, we gotta watch eating these:
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control, the ten saltiest foods we eat make up 44% of our sodium intake. Most of them aren't NATURALLY salty . . . food companies ADD the salt. In fact, the USDA says naturally occurring salt only accounts for about 13% of our sodium intake. Another 77% is added by food manufacturers, and only 10% is what they call "discretionary salt use". That's the salt you add while cooking or at the table. Basically, nine out of ten people are getting too much salt, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. So cutting back on any these is probably a good idea. And some of the top ten are surprising.
#1.) Bread. According to the CDC, it's the number one source of salt in our diet. Bagels are the worst. A Dunkin' Donuts Salt Bagel has almost 3,500 milligrams of sodium, which is one-and-a-half times what you should have in a whole DAY.
--You're not supposed to have more than 2,300 milligrams. So an onion bagel is better. They have about 380 milligrams of sodium.
#2.) Deli Meat. Some are obviously better than others, but most deli meats and cured meats are high in salt. For example, six thin slices of salami have 1,130 milligrams of salt . . . or the same amount as 39 Ritz crackers.
#3.) Pizza. A large slice of pepperoni at Pizza Hut has about 600 milligrams of salt, and you never just eat one piece. A personal deep-dish pizza at Uno has almost 5,000 milligrams of salt.
#4.) Poultry. If you check the label on raw chicken at the grocery store, it usually says something like "10% broth solution." That translates to about 60 extra milligrams of salt per chicken breast. So look for packages that say "No added broth."
#5.) Soup. Chicken noodle soup is one of the saltiest soups, especially if you get it from a restaurant. Minestrone is better. It has about one-third as much salt.
#6.) Burgers and Sandwiches. A cheeseburger at McDonald's or a sandwich at Quizno's can have 4,000 milligrams of salt. So the burgers and sandwiches you make at home are generally healthier.
#7.) Cheese. Parmesan and cottage cheese are both loaded with salt. They each have about 900 milligrams per cup. Low-sodium versions are obviously better. And regular cheddar has about half as much.
#8.) Pasta. The actual noodles aren't really the problem. It's what you put ON them. Sauces are usually high in salt, especially at restaurants. And things like Ramen Noodles are worse. One package has over 2,000 milligrams.
#9.) Steak. It doesn't HAVE to be high in salt, but it usually is. Country fried or chicken fried steak is the worst. One steak can have upwards of 6,000 milligrams of salt. A regular filet has about a quarter of that.
#10.) Salty Snacks. This is the one people struggle with most. Things like chips, popcorn, and pretzels are literally COVERED in salt. Seventeen Rold Gold pretzels . . . which is one serving . . . contain almost 20% of the salt you're supposed to have in a day.
I use my slow-cooker all of the time. Whip these wings together right after church, and it's hands-free til game time! From Allrecipes.com:
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
Rated:
Submitted By: sal
Photo By: arthurfl99
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Hours
Ready In: 5 Hours 5 Minutes
Servings: 8
"Chicken wings slow cooked with a spicy tangy sauce mixture which includes chili sauce, chili powder lemon juice and molasses!"
Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds chicken wings, split and
tips discarded
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle chile
sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 drops hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon salsa
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
1.
Place chicken in slow cooker. In a medium bowl combine the chile sauce, lemon juice, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, salsa, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Mix together and pour mixture over chicken.
2.
Cook in slow cooker on Medium Low setting for 5 hours.
Chris Carter
