This declaration came from Bon Appetit Magazine this week and got us thinking about our own sodium intake. Salt is essential to many of the body’s functions, so we have to have some. However, the average American eats more than 3,400 mg of sodium a day. The American Heart Association recommends less than 1,500 mg per day. Yikes. This is contributing to the myriad of heart diseases, high blood pressure and weight problems that we have all become too familiar with. It’s not just the salt shaker to blame either. High levels of sodium can be found in virtually anything that comes in a box and in the most surprising places. One that stunned us was canned spaghetti sauces, which typically have 525 mg per serving!

Using freshly squeezed lime or lemon is a great way to season your food and heighten flavors, instead of using salt. At the grocery store concentrate on buying things that are low sodium or have no salt added. Once home try juicing a lemon or lime right into your food. You’ll be surprised at the pleasant acidity and how fresh even store bought goods can be. A side note – the seeds from lemons or limes poisonous, even if just a small amount like a handful is ingested. We suggest using Chef’n’s Citrus Juicer for the job, it strains virtually all pulp and seeds leaving only delicious juice behind.

Fresh Force Citrus Juicer

For more on the health benefits of using lime read this great article from OrganicFacts.net: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-lime.html