ion_avenger
04-12-2009, 04:54 PM
Since so many people PM'd me this week to ask the same question, and I'm sick of hearing misinformed whining people complaining about soft water being bad for you heart, I'm going to publish this once and for all:
The current recommendation is to consume less than 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. It includes ALL salt and sodium consumed, including sodium used in cooking and at the table. Misinformed doctors and health care "professionals" point their fingers at soft water as an EVIL, SALT-FILLED liquid. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Water Hardness (gpg) Sodium per liter of softened water
--------------------- ---------------------------------
1 7.6 mg/l
5 37.3 mg/l
10 74.3 mg/l
15 111.6 mg/l
20 149 mg/l
30 223.3 mg/l
40 297.6 mg/l
A very low sodium beverage is 35mg/l or less
A low sodium beverage is 140mg/l or less
SO..............Soft water is a VERY LOW SODIUM BEVERAGE if the initial hardness is lower than 5gpg.
Soft water is a LOW SODIUM BEVERAGE if the initial hardness is 18gpg or less
Compare this to MILK:
Milk, non-fat/skim 508 mg/l
Milk, 1 percent fat 496 mg/l
Milk, 2 percent fat 488 mg/l
Milk, canned, condensed 1556 mg/l
Milk, canned, evaporated, non fat 1176 mg/l
Milk, canned, evaporated 1068 mg/l
Milk, chocolate, regular 600 mg/l
Buttermilk, low fat 1028 mg/l
Don't see any doctors telling people to avoid drinking MILK do you?
Other sodium content comparisons:
Cream of Chicken Soup 4188 mg/l
Oh, and before we forget one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium.
UK Sodium RDA
The US sodium RDA of less than 2,400 mg is higher than the UK Recommended Nutritional Intake (RNI) whose upper limit for sodium is 1,600 mg.
Sodium RDA - Lower for Those with Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure should consume less sodium as recent research has shown that people consuming diets of 1,500 mg of sodium had better blood pressure lowering benefits. These lower-sodium diets also can keep blood pressure from rising and help blood pressure medicines work better.
Sodium RDA - National Research Council
The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences recommends an approximate daily range of 1,100 to 3,300 mg of sodium for *****s.
Sodium RDA - American Heart Association
The American Heart Association recommends that for every 1,000 Calories of food consumed, the sodium intake should be 1,000 mg and should not exceed the 3,000 mg limit.
Sodium RDA vs. Average Intake
The average intake in the United States is between 4,000 and 5,000 mg of sodium per day.
No Specific Sodium RDA for Children
Specific recommendations regarding sodium intake do not exist for infants, children, and adolescents. However, since eating habits and attitudes about food formed during childhood are likely to influence eating habits for life, moderate intake of sodium is suggested.
Sodium Deficiency
Sodium deficiency is not common but can occur during heavy/prolonged exercise, due to loss in sweat and in high temperatures. Signs of sodium deficiency include: cramps, weakness, fatigue, nausea and thirst.
Sources include:
US Dept of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
The current recommendation is to consume less than 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. It includes ALL salt and sodium consumed, including sodium used in cooking and at the table. Misinformed doctors and health care "professionals" point their fingers at soft water as an EVIL, SALT-FILLED liquid. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Water Hardness (gpg) Sodium per liter of softened water
--------------------- ---------------------------------
1 7.6 mg/l
5 37.3 mg/l
10 74.3 mg/l
15 111.6 mg/l
20 149 mg/l
30 223.3 mg/l
40 297.6 mg/l
A very low sodium beverage is 35mg/l or less
A low sodium beverage is 140mg/l or less
SO..............Soft water is a VERY LOW SODIUM BEVERAGE if the initial hardness is lower than 5gpg.
Soft water is a LOW SODIUM BEVERAGE if the initial hardness is 18gpg or less
Compare this to MILK:
Milk, non-fat/skim 508 mg/l
Milk, 1 percent fat 496 mg/l
Milk, 2 percent fat 488 mg/l
Milk, canned, condensed 1556 mg/l
Milk, canned, evaporated, non fat 1176 mg/l
Milk, canned, evaporated 1068 mg/l
Milk, chocolate, regular 600 mg/l
Buttermilk, low fat 1028 mg/l
Don't see any doctors telling people to avoid drinking MILK do you?
Other sodium content comparisons:
Cream of Chicken Soup 4188 mg/l
Oh, and before we forget one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium.
UK Sodium RDA
The US sodium RDA of less than 2,400 mg is higher than the UK Recommended Nutritional Intake (RNI) whose upper limit for sodium is 1,600 mg.
Sodium RDA - Lower for Those with Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure should consume less sodium as recent research has shown that people consuming diets of 1,500 mg of sodium had better blood pressure lowering benefits. These lower-sodium diets also can keep blood pressure from rising and help blood pressure medicines work better.
Sodium RDA - National Research Council
The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences recommends an approximate daily range of 1,100 to 3,300 mg of sodium for *****s.
Sodium RDA - American Heart Association
The American Heart Association recommends that for every 1,000 Calories of food consumed, the sodium intake should be 1,000 mg and should not exceed the 3,000 mg limit.
Sodium RDA vs. Average Intake
The average intake in the United States is between 4,000 and 5,000 mg of sodium per day.
No Specific Sodium RDA for Children
Specific recommendations regarding sodium intake do not exist for infants, children, and adolescents. However, since eating habits and attitudes about food formed during childhood are likely to influence eating habits for life, moderate intake of sodium is suggested.
Sodium Deficiency
Sodium deficiency is not common but can occur during heavy/prolonged exercise, due to loss in sweat and in high temperatures. Signs of sodium deficiency include: cramps, weakness, fatigue, nausea and thirst.
Sources include:
US Dept of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute