Why Low Sodium

As per US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Americans consume on average 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day— 45% more than the 2,300 mg limit recommended by federal guidelines for people 14 years and older. Recommended limits for children 13and younger are even lower and are mostly violated.

The American Heart Association explains that when one has excessive sodium in the bloodstream, it draws too much water into blood vessels. This increases blood pressure, strains the heart, and puts you at risk of heartdisease. The extra water in your body can also lead to bloating and weight gain. High blood pressure also known as the “silent killer” is No. 1 killer worldwide. About 90% of adults in the United States are expected to develop high blood pressure over their lifetimes. However, the implications go beyond high blood pressure. High sodium also causes fluid retention, strains the kidneys and compromises bone health. Moreover, sodium's impact on stomach health and its potential role in exacerbating gastric ulcers further emphasize the need for mindful consumption.

However, the implications go beyond high blood pressure. It also causes fluid retention, strain on the kidneys and even compromised bone health to mention but a few. Moreover, sodium's impact on stomach health and its potential role in exacerbating gastric ulcers further emphasize the need for mindful consumption.

Global efforts to curb sodium intake have led to initiatives such as the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI) and updated guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Recognizing the need to reduce sodium levels, the US FDA provided voluntary sodium targets for the industry and tightened the food labeling to empower consumers. The NSRI, a collaborative effort among health organizations and industry stakeholders, focuses on lowering sodium in packaged and restaurant foods to improve public health outcomes.

The World Health Organization has also set benchmarks to help countries save lives by reducing sodium intake and deployed a global action plan to minimize sodium consumption by 2025.

Despite these commendable strides, challenges persist in altering dietary habits and balancing sodium intake with taste preferences.

Esteemed institutions like the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and National Institute of Health (NIH) have established that our bodies need far more potassium than sodium each day, but the typical U.S. diet is just the opposite: Americans average about 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, about 75% of which comes from processed foods, while only getting about 2,900 milligrams of potassium each day. Potassium is an essential mineral that is needed by all tissues in the body. Potassium also helps muscles to contract and supports normal blood pressure. Salicornia offers adequate amount of potassium (~10mg per serving) without any harmful impact.

Majority of our sodium intake comes from salt and the simplest way to limit the amount of salt we consume is by switching from common to natural plant based salt. To counter this excess sodium consumption, you can use our 100% natural salts which have 50% less sodium and are rich in minerals and vitamins too.