By Kimberly Tessmer, RD, LD Sodium is an electrolyte mineral. It helps maintain a fluid and acid-base balance in the body. Sodium occurs naturally in most foods. It is even present in drinking water.
Convenience foods contain the most sodium in the form of salt and food additives.
Convenience foods are designed to be quick and easy to transport, store prepare and eat. To do all this, they need stabilizers, preservatives and ingredients to improve taste. And sodium does it all. High amounts of salt, or sodium chloride, are found in processed meats such as bacon, sausage and ham, in canned soups and vegetables, and in many frozen foods. Most restaurant food is also high in sodium.