Whole foods in their natural state (such as fresh produce, meats, and fish) are always your best food choices.  Many people, however, feel that it is necessary to purchase processed foods due to their ease of use and convenience.

   The sodium in processed foods, such as lunch meats and frozen entrées, is generally used as a preservative and flavor enhancer.  

   Unfortunately, one frozen entrée' may contain more than 2,000 milligrams of sodium.  This is almost the recommended daily allowance of 2400 milligrams.  If you do eat one of these meals, you would be well advised to limit your sodium intake for the rest of that day.

   Now the nation's largest doctors' group, the American Medical Association, is going after the government and the food industry to reduce what it sees as a persistently high level of salt in many processed foods...

   ...Specifically, the medical association, which had never before called for regulation of a food ingredient, asked the F.D.A. to revoke salt's long-time status as a substance that is "generally recognized as safe," a classification that warrants little oversight.  Instead, the F.D.A. should regulate salt as a food additive, the medical group said.   

   If the recommendation were adopted, packaged-food companies would have to adhere to limits on allowable sodium levels for various categories of food, and speed up the search for an alternative to salt as a preservative and flavor enhancer.

   Alternative?  Here come the chemists...I hate to think of what unnatural chemical compounds may be replacing salt.  

   Sodium (or salt) is a necessary nutrient.  We can not function without it.  The body uses sodium to regulate blood pressure and blood volume.  It is also necessary for the functioning of our muscles and nerves.  The recommended safe minimum is 500 milligrams a day. 

   If you enjoy packaged/processed foods, think in terms of moderation.  For example, if you decide on a frozen entrée for lunch,  be sure to have a sensible home-cooked meal at dinner time.

   Enjoy your food.  Check out my cookbook for over 100 wholesome and flavorful, snacks, beverages, meals, and deserts.