sodium content on labels

[outdoorlady1]

i would like more information about sodium levels in food. i am seeing a lot in various ranges. What is a good level? i know we dont want lots of that in our diet…but it appears it can add up fast…would like a limit amount.

[Deborahjjhayes]

I found an answer for you in SBS!!!

[Deborahjjhayes]

July 3, 2013 | by Kris Gunnars | 54,669 views | 37 Comments … we should aim for less than 1500 mg of sodium per day, and definitely not more than 2300 mg. … start reading labels and start to actively restrict the amount of sodium in our diets.

[DaisyDew]

Hi Deborah~

Help please . . . I too was wondering about the daily consumption allowed for sodium. [?] Wouldn’t it be nice if when we went researching ‘stuff’ like this, we could get the answer in — ENGLISH!? 🙁 It would certainly ease the angst of having to (now) research the conversion from ‘Greek’ to English’. eh?

So — mg = milligrams – right? The only conversion chart I was able to locate had me convert the number of milligrams to ounces and then convert the ounces to teaspoons. Will you please check and verify that my conversion calculations are (about) correct? And IF they are – wow! We’re not allowed much sodium per day, are we?

1500mg converted to: 0.318 tsp.
2300mg converted to: 04.86 tsp.

Actually, I don’t think those figures are correct. [?] I have broad shoulders Deborah, 😛 you may say, “Look, you Okie from Muskogee, ya got it all wrong!” 😉

So? How many tsp’s in 1200/2300mg’s?

Ain’t we got fun!? 😛

[Montgom]

Hi Daisy
I had a difficult time with metric when Canada switched many years ago but it’s not too bad now. You can only convert weight to weight, volume to volume, etc. So mg to tsp you can’t do as mg is a weight and tsp is volume.

Look at it this way, 1 lb of rocks is a much smaller package than 1 lb of feathers. But you can do mg to oz. If you weighed 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of basil, the salt would be heavier but both the same volume. If you took 1 oz of salt and 1 oz of basil, you would have a lot of basil and very little salt. Does this make sense?
About the only way to convert mg to tsp would be to take a tsp of salt and weight it in mg.

And this goes for lbs and kilograms (weight) or quarts and litres (volume) as well.

Hope this helps.
Georgia

[DaisyDew]

Hi Georgia 🙂 . . .

Okey dokey . . . what you said/say makes perfect sense. With that, I was wondering why there were several choices of online conversion charts available to select from to ascertain the conversion. I went back to the drawing-board (metaphorically speaking) and found another website with a different type of conversion table available. This website seemed (to me) to be a little more ‘tech-hip’ than the one I was at previously.

Using their conversion calculator I imputed the needed information several times and got the same answer. It was interesting that (in playing around) when I imputed ‘sugar’ instead of ‘salt’ I got different answers, and like you mentioned, “…salt would be heavier…” it’s because: “Converting between weight and volume depends on the — density — of the substance.” (heavier = density)
Therefore, being that ‘salt’ has a density of 1.234 g/cm3, the conversion translated thusly:

1500mg = 0.247 tsp
2300mg = 03.78 tsp

Information came from: http://www.onlineconversion.com/

If anyone wishes to play with this conversion — at their homepage:
Click on: Cooking and then click on: Weight to Volume Cooking Conversions . . .
Then impute the required information.

‘course with these new results — that’s even LESS salt allowed daily! Thank you for your remarks, Georgia. 😉

Phew! My brain is exhausted! 😛

[outdoorlady1]

thanks. got it.

[outdoorlady1]

I am finding mg helpful because the labels i read list mg per serving. so i just watch my serving size and estimate from there. It isnt completely accurate…but it keeps me aware and i now know that i need to do a refresher in weights and volume. I like learning…so adding that to my list of things to learn (relearn) since i never used it I forgot it from school days. i appreciate the answer deb…thanks millions..

[outdoorlady1]

thank you dd too. 🙂

[Ossie-Sharon]

Hi, outdoorlady1. For reference, a “low sodium food” legally has to be 140 mg per serving. The daily requirement for most people is about 2000-3000 mg per day.
Thanks, DaisyDew, for the great info!

[DaisyDew]

Thank you Ossie-Sharon 🙂 . . . on that note I need to correct a ‘decimal-point’ error.
In the conversion figures the converted amount for 2300mg — SHOULD BE: 0.378 — NOT: 03.78.
Lawdy-lawdy I’ve been procrastinatin’ over getting new glasses. I guess I’d better get a wriggle on and get to my optometrist! 😛

[Montgom]

Yes, thank you Daisy. I didn’t know this website existed. I will definitely use it. I feel like the kid who goes to the library and asks the librarian what those big books were – when told they were encyclopedia, he remarked “You mean somebody printed off the whole thing?”

[DaisyDew]

You’re most certainly welcome, Georgia! “…printed off the whole thing?” Phunny! 🙂

You know, Georgia — when the day comes that we don’t learn something ‘new’ (from whomever/wherever) there are going to be relatives gathered around a table listening to our ‘last testament’ being read! It’s how we receive/accept and digest offered/suggested information that is a testimony to our character. I’ve never been afraid of being mistaken about something, nor a problem in someone pointing it out to me. With that articulated, I need to augment: It’s not ‘what’ is said — but ‘how’ it is said. 😛

Curious. The ‘montgom’ under your avatar – if spelled-out . . . would it spell ‘Montgomery’? And your name being – Georgia – are you from Alabama? It’s like trying to analyze personalized license plates and it’s fun when you get it right. 😛

[DaisyDew]

Well! Silly-goose me! I guess all I had to do was check your bio! I forget we have that option to see where we all are from! I should refrain from writing anything until I’ve been up for a few hours! 🙂

Have a good-one . . . Janie 😛

[Montgom]

Hi Daisy
Yes, it is Montgomery. But no, unfortunately for me, not from warm Alabama (cold BC) but I do use the references when people can’t spell my name: Georgia as in the state; Montgomery as in Alabama. Works every time. I, too, try to guess vanity plates – sure come up with some weird ones. How’s this one: TDC LSR
geo

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