Sports drinks
Even after a heavy-duty sweat session at the gym, you probably don’t need a sports drink to replace your sodium stores. “Those beverages are created for athletes training at a high level for an extended period,” says Alysha Coughler, RD, a dietitian and personal trainer with Cardio-Go in Toronto, Ontario, CA. Water, coconut water, or maple water will quench your thirst and keep you within your daily sodium budget. Here are some surprising reasons you’re always thirsty. (Yes, eating foods high in sodium is one of them!)
Veggie burgers
A vegetarian or vegan diet is known for being exceptionally healthy, so you may be shocked to learn that a veggie burger could be high in sodium. “Many meat substitutes are as high, or higher in salt than the regular stuff, to improve the flavor and texture,” Coughler says. Here are the things that happen to your body when you give up eating meat.
Cookies
When satisfying a sweet tooth, you’re probably more worried about sugar than salt. “But just because a product is sweet doesn’t mean it’s not high in sodium,” Coughler says. Besides the packaged baked goods we may toss in our shopping cart, Coughler cautions us to watch for sneaky high-sodium sources, such as “healthy” versions of cookies and brownies. Here are some other “healthy” things you’re eating that are less healthy than you thought.