Hidden salt (sodium)

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Hidden salt (sodium)

Salt (sodium) can be found in many substances that you might not suspect. Some nonprescription medications and many canned and other processed foods contain sodium.

Check your food labels. Sodium can have many different names. Be careful about using products that have these ingredients:

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG (often added to Chinese food)
Sodium citrate
Sodium sulfite
Sodium caseinate
Sodium benzoate
Sodium hydroxide
Disodium phosphate

Check your medications. Sodium can be an ingredient in medicines.

Prescription medicines. Talk with your doctor about whether the medicines you take contain salt.
Nonprescription medicines. Many medicines that you can buy without a prescription contain sodium. Read the labels. If you are not sure whether a medicine contains sodium, talk with a pharmacist. Be sure to check with your health professional before taking any new nonprescription medicine.

Credits

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Author	Robin Parks, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Marianne Flagg
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Associate Editor	Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology
Last Updated	August 25, 2008

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Last updated:	August 25, 2008
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology
Editors:	Marianne Flagg, Terrina Vail

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