Conference rocks::weight_control

    Hi-
    
    The same thing bugged me about WW products; they're so good yet
    they contain so MUCH sodium, I don't like to eat them.  I asked
    a WW leader once why a group so focused on health uses so much
    sodium--the answer is preservation.  Something to do with shelf-
    life, etc.
    
    Anyway, I found the answer to "How much sodium is enough" right
    in the newsletter put out by Health Services here at DEC.  
    
    According to this article, all the average person really NEEDS is
    220 mg of sodium per day--about 1/10th teaspoon.  However, the
    article concludes by saying that 3000 mg per day or less is fine
    for the average (i.e., no hypertension, heart disease, etc) person.
    
    So, anywhere between 220 and 3000 mg per day seems to be the answer
    ... 
    
    Laurie
    

	If you don't have high blood pressure, you can safely tolerate
    a daily intake of 20mg per pound of body weight (Columbia Encyclo-
    pedia of Nutrition).
    
    	But I will say that 1000mg of sodium in WW lasanga is a lot
     more than I'd suspect in their products.
    
    -mike z

    I'm on the WW program now, and have high blood pressure, so I'm
    also concerned about the sodium in the frozen dinners.  In talking
    to the WW leader and my doctor, the general consensus has been that
    the dinners are alright 2-3 times a week - the rest of the time
    they recommend fresh meats and vegetables.  I've also found that
    if you start retaining fluids, the best solution is to drink a LOT
    of water - that will help flush things out.  

>        But I will say that 1000mg of sodium in WW lasanga is a lot
>     more than I'd suspect in their products.

Have you looked at the sodium content in WW soups?  Some are higher than 
Campbell's!!

							Pat

.4>Have you looked at the sodium content in WW soups?  Some are higher than 
.4>Campbell's!!
    
    	Sorry to say, no.
    
    	I prefer cooking my own meals, rather than buying pre-made
    ones.  It doesn't take me a whole lot of time to prepare a full
    dinnertime meal.
    
    -mike z

    	OOps.  Lets try this again.  Preprocessed foods are the worst
    things possible.  They are full of preservitives (including SALT)
    and usually contain sugar.  I used to eat a great deal of preprocessed
    foods, including canned vegetables, then one day I ventured to the
    store and purchased some fresh vegetable.  WOW what a difference!
    I can't stand preprocessed foods any more, but I will not go without
    my favorite spice, SALT.  However I have reduced the amount that
    I use, by adding other spices.  Amounts of salt really varry quite
    substantially from person to person.  Reducing the amount you use
    is great, as long as you do get some on a regular basis.  If you
    can't do without salt, then add spices as you remove the salt...It
    can make all the difference in the world.

    I am presently going to a nutritionist to help me lose weight.
    Since October I have lost 26 lbs.  She gave me an article regarding
    frozen dinners, which has helped me a great deal in making the best
    choices.  In regard to sodium it was suggested if you were on a 
    low-sodium diet that you choose dinners that have less than 700g,
    otherwise, choose those that have less than 1000g.  They were going
    under the assumption that 3000g was the limit for the day and that
    your other two meals and snacks would not go over that limit.
    
    More importantly, you should be looking at the fat content.  A number
    of the frozen dinners, even WW, have over 30% of fat.  You should
    aim for somewhere between 20 & 30%.  Look at the fat content and
    multiply that number by 9 and then divide by the amount of calories.
    
    I hope this helps.
    
    

    RE: .7
    
    Seeing you're going to a nutritionist and have been very successful
    in your weight loss, can you share with us which frozen dinners you 
    prefer?

    Also, I'm terrible in math... ha ha ha!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Pam  

    I've cut down on the number of frozen dinners.  I try only
    to use them once or twice during the week.  The two I eat
    most often are:
    
    	Lean Cuisine:  Zucchini Lasagna
    		       
    		       Good Tasting
    	               260 Calories
    		       21g Protein (19 or more is good)
    		       7g fat (24%)
    
    	Armour Classic Lites: 	Sweet & Sour Chicken
    				Good Tasting
    				240 Calories
    				18g Protein
    				2g Fat (7.5%)
    
    I don't recall the sodium for the above two, however, I believe
    the are both under 1000g.  The above information is listed in my 
    food diary that I write down daily (what a chore).  When I find
    a frozen dinner I like I write down the information so I don't
    have to figure it out each time.
    
    The article recommended some of the following dinners.  It stated
    that they were 300 calories or less, 30 percent of calories or 
    less from fat, 15 grams or more of protein, 1,000 mg or less of
    sodium.
    
    Lean Cuisine:
    
    	Filet of Fish Divan/broccoli
    	Linguini with Clam Sauce (If you are really a linguini and clam
    				   sauce eater, you will probably be
    			 	    disappointed with this one -- I was)
    	Tuna Lasagna with Spinach Noodles & Vegetables
    	Zucchini Lasagna
    
    Weight Watchers
    
    	Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti
    	Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
    	Sweet n Sour Chicken
    
    Armour Classic Lites
    
    	Beef Pepper Steak/rice,green beans
    	Steak Diane Mignonettes
    	Sweet & Sour Chicken/broccoli, rice
    
    Budget Gourmet
    
    	Mandarin Chicken
    	Oriental Beef
    
    There a many more dinners out there and new ones everyday so
    Read the Labels for a good choice.