If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or other health conditions that require a low sodium diet, you may be wondering if you can still enjoy your favorite store-bought cookies. The good news is that there are many low sodium options available on the market that can satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health. However, it is important to know what to look for when selecting low sodium cookies to ensure that you are making a healthy choice.
Here's what you should know about low sodium store-bought cookies:
Check the nutrition label
When shopping for low sodium cookies, be sure to check the nutrition label to see how much sodium is in each serving. Aim for cookies that contain less than 140 mg of sodium per serving
Watch out for hidden sources of sodium
Even if a cookie is labelled as "low sodium," it may still contain hidden sources of sodium, such as baking powder or baking soda.
Choose naturally low-sodium cookies
There are a few cookies that are naturally low in sodium such as sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, and shortbread cookies.
DIY low-sodium cookies
Benefits of choosing low sodium chips and crackers:
- Decreased risk for heart disease
- Weight control
- Better digestion
- Overall health benefits
According to a study on The Importance of Sodium Restrictions in Chronic Kidney Disease that was published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, that did a crossover study on the impact of a low and high sodium diet on blood pressure, found that the study found a positive impact on BP, kidney function, and volume markers with less dietary sodium. High sodium intake resulted in increased glomerular filtration rate and urine output, which was thought to be a result of hyper filtration causing damage to the kidney. This also resulted in an increase in the extracellular/intracellular fluid ratio, proving a correlation with high sodium intake and fluid retention.
So, by adding low-sodium snacks like chips and crackers, it can be very beneficial to your kidney health. However, it’s important to remember that even if the snacks we listed above are low in sodium, it’s still best to consume them in moderation.
That being said, if you want to learn how to start a low-sodium diet, you can schedule a call with our enrollment advisor today to get started.
