Converting milligrams to teaspoons

I am trying to convince my dad that he needs to give up some, not all, of his snack products because they are so high in salt, which he is supposed to be watching. I tried to find a table that will convert milligrams to teaspoons, but didn't have any immediate luck (although I will admit I didn't look that long, either). I might be able to figure this out myself given enough time. However, since the point is to keep my dad from killing himself within the next ___ years a little help would probably be good. Math has never been my thing. I always have to do it the slow, tedious way. It's disgusting. Thanks for your help.

[Robert Fogt]

Common table salt has a density of about 5 grams per teaspoon

But that does not convert directly to the sodium found in processed food. Common table salt is sodium chloride mixed with iodine and other anti-caking substances. Multiply the grams of salt by 0.40 to get the approximate amount of sodium.

I think you need to just read the nutrition facts found on the label. For a 2000 calorie diet the recommended amount is 2400 mg of sodium a day. But check the labels, and multiply by the number of servings.

1 teaspoon of table salt would be 5000 grams, which is about 2000 mg of sodium.

[Robert Fogt]

Check out this link here:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...e/id-1533.html

Thanks. That is a big help. We have had this discussion before, but he really does forget. I really think it helps to be able to visualize it. My mom had to go to a kidney Dr. once and they had a visual of how much salt was in common foods. For me, it was shocking. Thanks again.

Thanks again from me. I have a sick son and we needed to do the same conversion and your post was very helpful.

Will

[JohnS]

Bob's answer above is certainly in the ballpark. Bulk densities vary with grind so the answer for weight of a teaspoon of salt may vary.

I'd like to outline two ways of finding reliable answers to such questions:

*Ask the package
I asked my salt box. The nutrition info panel said a serving was 1/4 teaspoon which weighed 1.5 g and contained 590 mg sodium (1 teaspoon, 2360 mg). Note that the metric serving size and analysis are reliable. The Customary serving size is rounded.

Packages of bulk goods like flour, sugar, etc frequently give a supplemental figure for total number of cups in the package or cups per pound. Since the package is ALSO labelled in metric weight, that may be helpful in converting grams to cups or vice versa. The data will be specific to that producer's grind and is better than general tables.

*Ask the USDA
Good source for US goods. Grinds that are different in other countries may affect densities. Link:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

The search engine is clunky. When you find what you want you can select the size serving for which you want a complete analysis. The database is based on density and analysis per 100 g. Everything else is converted.

Per it, 1 teaspoon of salt is 6 g and 2325 mg sodium.

Given rounding rules, and the fact one figure is brand specific, the other generic, these agree pretty well.

Originally Posted by Robert Fogt

Common table salt has a density of about 5 grams per teaspoon

But that does not convert directly to the sodium found in processed food. Common table salt is sodium chloride mixed with iodine and other anti-caking substances. Multiply the grams of salt by 0.40 to get the approximate amount of sodium.

I think you need to just read the nutrition facts found on the label. For a 2000 calorie diet the recommended amount is 2400 mg of sodium a day. But check the labels, and multiply by the number of servings.

1 teaspoon of table salt would be 5000 grams, which is about 2000 mg of sodium.

5000 grams is 17 ounces. your math is wrong.

[JohnS]

Originally Posted by rgrguitar

5000 grams is 17 ounces. your math is wrong.

Pot, kettle. 5000 g is just over 11 pounds, or 176.4 oz.

The 5000 g either should have been 5 g or 5000 mg (same thing).

[Robert Fogt]

Originally Posted by JohnS

Pot, kettle. 5000 g is just over 11 pounds, or 176.4 oz.

The 5000 g either should have been 5 g or 5000 mg (same thing).

Yeah I certainly didn't mean to say salt weighs 5 kilograms per teaspoon. Funny that I said it right in the first sentence and not on the last.

This person means mg not grams. And also, for individuals over 50, the American Heart and Lung Association recommended daily sodium is 1500 mg, not 2400. So for the woman worried about her father, this is a helpful fact.