For the past several articles, we've been talking about the foods we should eat. Now I want to highlight some foods that we shouldn't eat. The main reason behind why these foods shouldn't be consumed is because they are loaded with salt or sodium, things which should never be eaten in excess.

Salt is sodium‐chloride, a combination of two elements. It is often used to season dishes, as well as in preserving foods. An excess of sodium in our bodies can increase our risks for heart disease, gout, and a host of other health problems.

Did you know that the recommended daily intake of salt each day is about one third to one half of a teaspoon? That's all you need in terms of salt, and yet so many of us consume about a full teaspoon or more each day without our even realizing it. We do this whenever we eat high in salt or high in sodium foods.

Foods that are high in salt or sodium should be eaten sparingly if at all. They are generally unhealthy. These kinds of food cause our body to retain water in our cells which can be damaging to our systems. This water retention makes us bloated, which in turn makes us look fatter than we actually are. I know many people who simply cut down their salt intake, got rid of the bloated look, and realized that they naturally have slim and well defined faces!

Cutting down your salt or sodium intake can do the same thing for you; reduce the bloated look and give you a slimmer face really fast! If you combine a reduction of salt or sodium filled foods with an increased consumption of the recommended foods mentioned earlier in the chapter, you can have a slimmer, better defined face faster! Plus, your body will feel better, you will feel more energized, and you will be healthier.

So, what are the salt or sodium filled foods we should stay away from? That's easy – anything instant, processed, or canned. Let's look at these, beginning with instant food. Anything instant is sure to have sodium because it needs to be preserved for some time. Things like instant noodles, which take about a minute to cook, powdered pasta sauces, or powdered gravy are all full of sodium, and all have little (if any) nutritional value. You should try to never eat these foods. They do very little for your body.

Next, processed food and canned food like processed and canned meats can be full of sodium. This means, no SPAM, or canned corned beef for you. These two common household foods are so full of unneeded sodium. They can actually be considered junk. Generally, it is recommended that you do not eat canned food. When it comes to food, fresh is always best. 

It is understandable, however, that we don't always have access to certain fresh products. This is why we have canned vegetables like canned corn, canned beans, canned artichokes, etc. In these cases, always wash your vegetables in water before cooking and consuming them. Washing them in water helps rinse away some of the salt or sodium, and it lessens the amount you take into your body. 

Finally, be wary of seasonings and soy sauce. There are many bottled seasoning sauces out there which are also full of unneeded sodium. The same goes for many types of soy sauce. Most of these are loaded with MSG or mono‐sodium‐glutamate, and it really is unhealthy and unneeded. Always check the label and try not to consume products with this ingredient.   

To make sure you are not consuming unwanted salt or sodium without your knowing it, learn how to read the nutrition facts which are found on the packaging of almost all food products. These nutrition facts will tell you how much sodium is in each serving and you can calculate that amount along with the amount of salt or sodium you will be eating throughout the rest of the day. Remember, the less sodium you consume, the better it is for your body and for having a slim face.

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