Spices and condiments can be used when cooking to add flavor to dishes. Today we’re taking a close look at spices and condiments that contain a high amount of salt. Some of these items may even surprise you!
Salt is a fundamental ingredient in cooking that can enhance the flavors of most dishes. However, too much salt can be harmful to our health and can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, or heart disease. Along with removing the saltshaker from the table, there are other spices and condiments that can be beneficial to replace.
Many spices and condiments contain a high amount of salt, which contributes to our daily intake of sodium. For example, soy sauce, which is commonly used in Asian dishes, contains about 800-1000 mg of sodium per tablespoon. That is nearly half our daily need for sodium!
Before seasoning your food, consider replacing or limiting these condiments that are high in salt:
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Ketchup and Tomato Sauces
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Mustard
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Chili Sauces, Hot Sauce, Tabasco Sauce, and Sriracha Sauce
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Salad Dressings, Marinades, and Mayonnaise
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Barbecue Sauce
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Steak Sauce
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Worcestershire Sauce
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Duck Sauce
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Canned Salsa and Taco Sauce
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Relish, Pickles, and Sauerkraut
Common spices that contain salt are ones that have salt in the name of the food item:
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Garlic Salt
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Onion Salt
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Celery Salt
Other spices to look out for that contain a high volume of salt are:
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Season-all
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Meat Tenderizers
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Dry Rubs
Consider sorting through your pantry and refrigerator and removing the high-sodium condiments and spices. Then, make sure to check out part 2 of this article where we'll discuss low-sodium alternatives to these spices and condiments.