Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (23 page)

Whole grains

Fish

Oats

Sodium

Essential for water balance.

Needed for nerves and muscles.

Most people consume too much sodium via packaged and processed foods, but if you are elderly and take diuretics for high blood pressure (and you follow a low-sodium diet) you may be deficient.

Natural sources (better used by the body):

Fish

Sea vegetables

Celery

Cabbage

Sources (so avoid if you need to cut down your sodium intake):

Salt

Bouillon cubes

Salted fish