World of Wellness: Bread is No. 1 Sodium Source

It seems to me that sugar has been getting all of the blog attention lately, but today I would like to tell you some news about salt. 

On Tuesday of this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report ranking dietary sources of salt. Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as snacks like potato chips and pretzels. It's not that bread and rolls is that much saltier than many other foods, but people tend to eat a lot of them.

You're probably wondering what else is on the list. Next on the list was cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, fresh and processed poultry, soups, and fast-food hamburgers. Surprisingly, snacks such as potato chips and pretzels barely made it in the top 10.

It's important for you to know that salt is the main source of sodium for most people, and sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease and stroke. Most people get too much salt from processed and restaurant foods -- not added from the salt shaker.

Here is a link to the CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitalSigns/Sodium/

~ In other news: There is a larger risk of developing deep vein thrombosis if you like to sit next to the window while flying. This is according to experts from the American College of Chest Physicians. Those at highest risk include female passengers taking the contraceptive pill, travelers over age 70, cancer patients and the severely obese. So, if you are flying in a long flight more than four hours, plan on climbing over a couple of people and get up and walk around regularly to stretch your calf muscles.

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) = the formation of serious blood clots in the veins, a potentially fatal disorder.

~ There is no such thing as a bargain on health insurance. If it's cheap, it's cheap for a reason. Consumer reports is warning against so–called “mini–med” health plans that offer limited protection, usually at a lower cost, but with sky-high deductibles that can leave you paying thousands out-of-pocket.

These plans generally offer little to no coverage, but employers who use them want to show that they have something extra to offer their staff. In reality, the plans offer little to no coverage. I suppose a big debate would be if you rarely ever get sick this may be a good option for you.

Wellness Matters for Life

God Bless, 

Doug