If you’ve ever felt particularly weak after an intense workout or you’ve become dehydrated from a bout of the flu, you probably have a pretty good idea what an electrolyte imbalance feels like. Electrolytes are minerals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. They are essential to many functions in the body, including nerve impulses, muscle contractions, pH ... Continue Reading
Prevent Kidney Stones and Understand Treatment Options
We have all heard about the pain of passing a kidney stone. Those who’ve experienced it never want to go through it again. Kidney stones are a common disorder of the urinary tract, and there are steps we can take to prevent them. We have all heard about the pain of passing a kidney stone. Those who’ve experienced it never want to go through it again. Kidney stones are a ... Continue Reading
6 Sneaky Ways Sodium Enters Your Diet
It's true for all of us, and the last thing anyone needs is another worry — especially in recent months, there's been a lot of talk about the dangers of eating too much sugar or fat, but it seems like everyone forgot to address salt. I'd like to encourage you to think twice about your salt intake, as excess processed salt is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease ... Continue Reading
Is sea salt really healthier?
As a dietetic intern, I often find myself noticing people's mealtime habits. One of these is the use of sea salt. People are loading on the sea salt because they believe it's the better-for-you version of table salt - lower in sodium and higher in healthful minerals. What's the truth? Is sea salt better for you? Let's check it out. Salt, Sodium - What's the ... Continue Reading
How much sodium? Decoding nutrition labels
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services are set to release the seventh edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, designed to give Americans a sense of what their diets need based on the newest food research. But interpreting this information as a consumer can be tricky. After all, the numbers companies must print on ... Continue Reading