What are some Sodium containing food ingredients?

Sodium is much more than what many of us might think it is.  Over 75% of most American dietary sodium is from processed foods with added sodium ingredients. 

When it comes to our foods, sodium is not only from the salt shaker (sodium chloride), but sodium is also added to many food products before we get it; in a variety of forms, and with a variety of names.

Sodium is naturally present in many food products.  Sodium is naturally present in most drinking water (in varying degrees, depending on location and other factors), milk and other dairy products, some vegetables, meats, and others. 

The following substances sometimes found in processed foods are some of the various forms of sodium, albeit all might not affect health in the same ways:

Sodium Chloride (table salt, sea salt)
Sodium Nitrate (used as a preservative; found naturally in leafy green vegetables)
Sodium Nitrite (added as a preservative, color fixative)
Sodium Benzoate (added as a preservative; found naturally in aples, cinnamon, cranberries, prunes, ripe cloves)
Sodium Erythorbate (added as a preservative)
Sodium Ascorbate (added as a preservative)
Sodium Citrates (Monosodium, Disodium, and Trisodium Citrates added as preservatives and flavor enhancers)
Sodium Saccharin (Saccharin - used as artificial sweetener)
Sodium Carbonate (additive; regulates acidity in foods)
Sodium Alginate (added as an emulsifier)
Disodium Phosphate (used as anti-caking agent in powdered products).
Monosodium Glutamate (has many other names; added as flavor enhancer)
Sodium Propionate (added as a preservative, mold inhibitor)
Sodium Metabisulfite (added as a preservative)
Disodium EDTA (added as a preservative)
Disodium Guanylate (added as a flavor enhancer, often with MSG)
Aluminum Sodium Sulfate (added as a neutralizer)
Sodium Bicarbonate (leavening agent)

There are literally dozens of other sodium ingredients; for more, visit the Salt Watcher website.