Let’s talk Sodium (aka, Sod-i-YUM)

No one walks away from Salt for long. Just ask Pepper.

Sodium is salt. Salt helps you retain fluids, which is good. It also constricts blood vessels, which is bad. Salt enhances the flavor of foods, which is good. It also acts as a preservative, which can be bad. You need salt to survive, but too much salt will eventually kill you. Crying about sodium will produce tears, which contain sodium, which will help you reduce your sodium.

Confusing, right?

So what to do? Try to limit the amount of sodium you consume to less than 1500 milligrams per day*. Trust me, it’s harder than you think. Every time you dine out at a typical restaurant you’re treating yourself to sodium and lots of it. Processed foods in a can or that convenient on-the-go treat in a wrapper? Sodium. So read the labels and do the math. Every little bit adds up. Even in the so-called “reduced sodium” foods (reduced from a “ton” to a “whole lotta”) oftentimes contain more than you want (but are better than the original).

Until an ideal ratio of sodium-to-calories is made standard, food will contain too much sodium, so it’s your responsibility to monitor how much is too much. And it's my responsibility to serve you unappetizingly bland food whenever you visit. Fair is fair. 

*Ha! Good luck.