Chicken Stock is notorious for having high sodium. That is one reason many soups taste so darn good.
However, like many products loaded with sodium such as hot dogs or frozen meals, chicken stock can be purchased in low or lower sodium varieties.
Let’s look at several popular low-sodium chicken broth brands to determine how much sodium is in them. By the end of this article, you should be clear on the amount of sodium in low sodium chicken broth.
Sodium in Low Sodium Chicken Broth
The table below offers a look at the sodium in low sodium chicken broth for common brands. The average sodium for all brands listed is 121 milligrams. However, the majority of brands have 140 milligrams.
| Brand | Serving Size | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Foods Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 40 mg |
| Swanson Low Sodium Chicken Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 140 mg |
| Whole Food 365 Organic Low Sodium Chicken Stock | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 110 mg |
| Rachael Ray All Natural Low Sodium Chicken Stock | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 140 mg |
| Imagine Organic Low Sodium Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 115 mg |
| Zoup! Low Sodium Chicken Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 140 mg |
| Simple Truth (Kroger brand) Organic Low Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 140 mg |
| Good & Gather (Target brand) Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth | 1 Cup (240 mL) | 140 mg |
| Average | 121 mg |
Keep in mind that reduced or lower sodium chicken broths aren’t the same as low sodium chicken broths. Reduced or lower-sodium chicken broths typically have higher sodium.
For example, one cup (240mL) of Good & Gather Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth has 570 milligrams of sodium. Another example is Great Value Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth. It has 530 milligrams of sodium in a cup.
Be sure to review the nutrition label of any chicken broth product if the amount of sodium you consume is a concern for you.
Recommended Daily Sodium
Most Americans consume too much sodium. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90 percent of people living in the United States exceed the daily recommended amount of salt. As you may have guessed, most sodium that Americans consume comes from restaurant meals and processed foods.
The norm for Americans is 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day. However, how much sodium should we be consuming? The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams daily for most adults. They go on to state that the ideal is no more than 1,500 milligrams per day.
Final Thoughts
A cup of low sodium chicken broth won’t ruin the day if you are trying to stick to around 2,000 milligrams per day in total sodium. However, if you want to greatly limit your sodium, you may want to try unsalted chicken broth such as Swansons Unsalted Chicken Broth. It has a small amount of sodium of 35 milligrams per cup.
Overall, chicken broth is a versatile product when it comes to sodium because it can be purchased in a variety of sodium levels. It also creates a lot of confusion around how much sodium we are really eating when we consume chicken broth. Hopefully, you now have some clarity about the topic from what you read above.
Sources:
Paddock, C. (n.d.). CDC: 90% of Americans consume too much salt. Medical News Today. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/304833#:~:text=Nine%20in%20ten%20Americans%20consume,including%20heart%20attack%20and%20stroke.
How much sodium should I eat per day? www.heart.org. (2022, July 22). Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/how-much-sodium-should-i-eat-per-day
