If you’re following a low-sodium diet, you may have noticed that bread can be a sneaky source of added salt. An average slice of bread has 100-200mg of sodium, making your unassuming sandwich a significant source of sodium in your day. The good news is that many low-sodium bread brands are available at the grocery store, allowing you to have your bread and stick to your low-sodium diet too.
What is sodium
Sodium is a nutrient involved in hydration status and nerve function. Though we need sodium as part of our diet, most people get too much. Over time, too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke (1).
Sodium is present in large amounts in processed foods, such as processed meat, dips, baked goods, and take-out meals (1).
Daily Recommended Intake of Sodium
The Daily recommended intake for sodium is 2300mg per day in the U.S and Canada (1,2). Though some experts believe that our sodium intake should be closer to 1500mg per day (4). This may seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly. To put this into perspective, the average daily sodium intake in America is 3400mg (1) and Canada is 2760mg per day (2).
Low Sodium Bread
When reviewing the nutrition facts for bread, there are two tools that you can use to find the lower sodium options:
- The Percent Daily Value is a tool on the right side of the Nutrition Facts Table that can help you identify if there is a little or a lot of a nutrient in a food. Look for bread with less than 5% daily value of sodium per slice.
- The sodium content is listed in mg on the left side of the nutrition label. Any bread with less than 115mg of sodium per serving is considered low sodium.
Bread Portion Size
Most nutrition facts tables refer to the nutrient content of one slice of bread. Keep in mind that you may have to double the sodium content on the food label if you have more than one slice of bread at a time.
15 Low Sodium Bread Brands at the Grocery Store
Ezekiel Bread
Ezekiel Bread Low Sodium flavor is completely salt-free, with zero sodium per slice. All other flavors of Ezekiel bread are also considered low sodium, with 60mg-80 per slice depending on the flavor.
Angelic Bakehouse
Angelic Bakehouse Sprouted No Salt Added bread contains only 5mg of sodium per slice. They also have Sprouted Reduced Sodium bread which is considered low sodium, with 85mg per slice.
Queen Street Gluten-Free Bread
Queen St. Bakery’s gluten-free bread is also low in sodium, with only 45-60mg per slice, depending on the flavor.
Dave’s Killer Bread Thin-Sliced
Dave’s Killer Bread Thin Slice has 90-115mg per slice, depending on the flavor. The lowest sodium flavor is the Thin-Sliced Power Seed, with 90mg of sodium per slice.
Sara Lee Delightful Mult-Grain bread
Sara Lee Delightful Multi-Grain bread contains 95mg sodium per slice.
Stonemill Bread
Stonemill Bread contains 90-115mg per slice, depending on the flavor. The lowest sodium flavors are Sprouted Rye & 12 Grains and Sprouted 3 Grains, with 90mg per slice.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers Whole Wheat bread contains 95mg of sodium per slice.
Canyon Bakehouse Ancient Grain Gluten-Free Bread
Canyon Bakehouse is a gluten-free option that contains 95mg of sodium per slice.
Simple Truth Organic Ancient Grains Thin Sliced Bread
Simple Truth Thin sliced bread contains 100mg sodium per slice.
Nature’s Own
Nature’s Own Whole Wheat and Whole Grain bread contain 110mg of sodium per slice.
Great Value
Great Value Whole Wheat Round Top bread contains 110mg of sodium per 1 slice.
Market Pantry 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Market Pantry’s 100% Whole Wheat bread has 115mg of sodium per slice.
15 Low Sodium Bread Brands at the Grocery Store
Brown Berry
Brown Berry Small Slice 100% Whole Wheat bread contains 115mg of sodium per slice.
Koepplingers 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Koepplinger’s 100% Whole Wheat bread contains 115mg of sodium per slice.
Related Content:
- Healthiest bread at Subway. Read our review here.
- 16 Low Sodium Cereal Brands: check out the full list here.
- Low Sodium Fast Food Options: review the complete list from A-Z here.
Sources:
- Sodium and Your Health, Health Canada (2022)
- Sodium in your Diet, U.S Food & Drug (2022)
