--- title: Is Sodium Nitrate or Sodium Nitrite Clean? description: You’ll often find sodium nitrate and/or sodium nitrite as an ingredient listed in processed and cured meats. We all know that too much of something can also be a bad thing. image: https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20Image%20(24).png --- ![Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/wakeLogo.svg) - [About](https://jensmiley.com/about/) - [Speaking](https://jensmiley.com/speaking/) - [Podcast](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Clean Eating Academy](https://wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Contact Wake Up!](https://jensmiley.com/contact/) ![Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/wakeLogo.svg) - [About](https://jensmiley.com/about/) - [Speaking](https://jensmiley.com/speaking/) - [Podcast](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Clean Eating Academy](https://wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Contact Wake Up!](https://jensmiley.com/contact/) [Harmful Ingredients](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/harmful-ingredients) # Is Sodium Nitrate or Sodium Nitrite Clean? January 12, 2023 **Written By:** [Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/author/wake-up-and-read-the-labels) Preservatives are typically added to food to extend the shelf life and make them last longer. Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are salts that are often used as a preservative to fit this category. You’ll often find sodium nitrate and/or sodium nitrite as an ingredient listed in deli meats, bacon, hot dogs, and other processed and cured meats. They're a type of salt, but we all know that too much of something can also be a bad thing.  ### Are Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrites Bad For You? Our bodies [need](https://www.webmd.com/diet/is-sodium-nitrate-safe) nitrates and nitrites, and the majority of the nitrates that we consume are found in vegetables. Therefore, it’s not so much a question of whether or not nitrates or nitrites are bad for you. The overuse of sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite is what can cause problems. Here’s a list of vegetables with naturally occurring nitrates and nitrites:![Bowl of Fresh Spinach](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Club%20Crackers.png?width=221&height=221&name=Club%20Crackers.png) - Spinach - Radishes - Lettuce - Celery - Carrots - Cabbage - Beets If we’re already consuming the necessary amounts of nitrates and nitrites, then it's important to be aware of the amount of sodium nitrates and sodium nitrites that you consume when they're used as food additives. ### Health Risks Associated With Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrites [Studies](https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-sodium-nitrate-bad-for-you#Can-Sodium-Nitrate-Be-Good-for-You?-) show that high levels of sodium nitrate and [sodium nitrites](https://www.livescience.com/36057-truth-nitrites-lunch-meat-preservatives.html) have been linked to health issues such as: - Cancer - Hodgkin Lymphoma - Heart disease It’s said to be extremely hard to reach the levels of sodium nitrate and sodium nitrites that are associated with these risks, and the risk is likely due more to them being consumed in other ways. Sodium nitrate can also be found in [water](https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-sodium-nitrate-bad-for-you#The-Risks-of-Getting-Too-Much) sources that are not regulated, so the over consumption can at times be related to water, as well. The amount of sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite as a preservative that is allowed in a product is [regulated](https://www.webmd.com/diet/is-sodium-nitrate-safe), but if you are consuming a lot of processed meats over time, then you may be consuming too much sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite. ### How To Avoid Too Much Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite At Wake Up and Read the Labels, shopping for products without so many questionable ingredients is our specialty! Most of the time, you can find a product that doesn’t include a certain ingredient. You just need to know how to read the labels. The good news, we know of a clean beef jerky that you can purchase immediately. We spoke to Ashley Kohn, the founder and owner of Prevail Jerky, on our [podcast](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/prevailing-through-food-with-ashley-kohn/), and her jerky doesn’t contain any preservatives like sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite! During this [episode](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/prevailing-through-food-with-ashley-kohn/), we discussed how she got started on her clean eating journey and why. It turns out, she was dealing with a lot of inflammation due to food made with preservatives, additives, and other artificial ingredients.  You can take control of your health and avoid unnecessary preservatives like sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. If you’d like to learn how, [schedule a call with a food coach](https://calendly.com/wakeupcoaches/15-min-breakthrough-chat-with-a-wurl-food-coach). We can discuss ways to help you get started.   [![Discover 3 Common Foods Killing Your Energy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20892933/75aa8c7c-b1f9-49e2-aa6c-a91b86e14369.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20892933/75aa8c7c-b1f9-49e2-aa6c-a91b86e14369) ##### Here at Wake Up and Read The Labels, we help people learn how to read ingredient labels on the food they eat. We are not licensed, medical professionals. We are here to educate. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians. #### Share On Social [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/is-sodium-nitrate-or-sodium-nitrite-clean%20&body=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/is-sodium-nitrate-or-sodium-nitrite-clean](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/is-sodium-nitrate-or-sodium-nitrite-clean%20&body=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/is-sodium-nitrate-or-sodium-nitrite-clean) ### Subscribe to Our Newsletter ## Keep Reading [Recipe](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/recipe) December 17, 2022 ### Wake UP’s Clean Peppermint Mocha Recipe You’re in line at Starbucks and craving that peppermint mocha that you keep seeing all over social media. Everyone flocks to Starbuck’s once it’s released, and you feel the need to have at least one per year.... 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