SODIUM   Furmano Foods goal is to generally meet the USDA/FDA guidelines for “Healthy” foods, and to not exceed 360 mg of sodium per serving in our products.  We are evaluating the formulations on any products that do not measure up to the “healthy” standard and plan to modify the sodium contents of these products in the very near future.   Sodium Guidelines as set by the FDA:   Sodium Free – less than 5 milligrams of sodium per serving Very Low-Sodium – 35 milligrams or less per serving Low-Sodium – 140 milligrams or less per serving Reduced Sodium – usual sodium level for product is reduced by 25% No Salt Added – made without the salt that is normally added, but still contains the sodium that is a natural part of the product itself.

Q.  What is Sodium? A.  The compound known as “Salt” contains two minerals: sodium and chloride.  It’s only the “sodium” component that sometimes creates problems.  For all the bad press that sodium receives, it’s important to realize that sodium is an essential nutrient, not only to life, but to good health.  It helps to maintain blood volume, regulate the balance of water in the cells, and transmit nerve impulses.  “Sodium is ubiquitous in the food supply,” the Food and Drug Administration has declared, meaning that nearly every food contains at least a trivial amount, either because it is naturally present or because it is added during processing.   Q.   Why should I be concerned? A.   Sodium helps maintain blood volume, but too much causes the blood to retain fluid.  The increased blood volume then calls on the heart to work harder to circulate blood to all the tissues in the body and increases blood pressure, also known as hypertension.  Elevated blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.  For many of these individuals, reducing the amount of sodium in the diet is very important.   Even small decreases in the amount of salt in your diet can have a significant positive effect on your health.  It is widely believed that a low-salt diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat can help lower your blood pressure.