What is sodium ? Is it true that eating too much can increase your risk of disease? Today we will find the answer to this question. Because consuming high sodium from being addicted to the delicious taste of food can cause health problems later on, risking unexpected diseases. In this article, SAMH will take everyone to get to know the evil sodium that can destroy your health without you knowing it.

What is sodium?

Sodium is a mineral that is essential for the body. Its function is to help maintain or control the balance of water in the body, maintain blood pressure at a normal level, and maintain the balance of the nervous system and muscles. 

Normally, our bodies need about 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. However, in reality, Thai people’s eating habits, which like to eat salty foods, โปรโมชั่น ufabet often consume more sodium than necessary, which can lead to many diseases.

What foods contain hidden sodium?

Now that we know what sodium is , this topic will take everyone to learn more about sodium. And what foods it is hidden in. Currently, it is found that Thai people consume as much as 4,350 milligrams. Of sodium per day, even though in reality they should not consume more than 2,000 milligrams per day. 

If you continue to do these behaviors, it will increase your risk of kidney disease in the future. Therefore, you should change your eating behavior by avoiding these food groups.

1. Seasoning

Many people already know that sodium is hidden in seasonings such as salt (granulated salt and ground salt), fish sauce, tomato sauce, soy sauce, MSG, soybean paste, shrimp paste, fermented fish, oyster sauce. And various dipping sauces. Seasonings are considered sources of sodium in food. So the consumption of these seasonings must be limited in order to get the right amount of sodium each day.

2. Food additives

Food additives are substances used in the production and processing of food. Often containing sodium as a hidden component, such as baking powder, food preservatives, and various processed foods. Therefore, you should reduce your consumption of food that has been flavored or processed.

3. Processed food

Processed foods often contain hidden sodium, such as frozen foods, all types of canned foods, salted meat, salted fish, fermented fish, pickled vegetables and fruits, processed meats, etc. These foods often contain a lot of sodium due to the addition of seasonings and the use of various nutrient additives. It has been found that 1 box of frozen food may contain as much as 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

4. Snacks and bakery

Snacks and bakery products such as baked corn chips, crispy snacks, potato chips, etc. often contain high sodium from seasonings and various baked goods that have added baking powder such as cakes, bread, pancakes, etc. because baking powder used in making pastries contains sodium bicarbonate as an ingredient, including ready-made flour that also has baking powder mixed in as well.

5. Electrolyte drinks

Sports drinks are fortified with sodium to replace the sodium lost through sweat, especially for those who exercise and need electrolytes, or those who have diarrhea, which can also cause mineral loss.

How to check the sodium content in food

What is sodium? This is a question that many people have already learned by reading this. But how do you know how much sodium is in your food? Here are some ways to observe it:

• Observe the ingredients and ingredients: Mostly, food that uses many types of seasonings tends to be high in sodium, such as Somtam, Tom Yum Nam Khon, etc.
• Observe the color and appearance of the food: For example, dark-colored soup or visible seasoning sauce coating the surface of the food is another sign that the food is high in sodium.
• Look at the nutritional label : Processed foods or snacks often have detailed information on the packaging indicating the sodium content.