The Shocking Truth About Just How Much Sodium is in Arby’s Roast Beef

As a longtime Arby’s fan, I’ve scarfed down my fair share of tasty roast beef sandwiches over the years But it wasn’t until recently that I learned the startling sodium stats behind their signature sliced meat. We’re talking nearly an entire day’s worth of salt in one regular roast beef sandwich!

In this article, I’ll reveal the insane amount of sodium hiding in Arby’s popular roast beef offerings I guarantee these crazy salt levels will make you think twice before chomping into another Beef ‘n Cheddar. Let’s dive in and uncover the salty secrets behind Arby’s famous sliced meats!

Why Arby’s Roast Beef is Sky-High in Sodium

As a fast food chain focused on piling meat onto sandwiches, it’s no surprise Arby’s options are sodium shockers. Cured, processed meats like roast beef naturally contain lots of salt.

But Arby’s takes things up a notch by adding even more sodium during cooking. Seasoning roast beef with extra salt enhances the flavor. But it also ramps up the final sodium counts to ridiculous levels.

Some Arby’s roast beef sandwiches now contain over 2,000mg sodium – the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of table salt! It’s easy to see why their slogan isn’t “We Have the Low Sodium Options”

Clearly, moderation is key if you want to keep enjoying Arby’s signature roast beef without going overboard on salt. So let’s look at exactly how much sodium is lurking in some of their popular sandwiches.

Sodium in Arby’s Classic Roast Beef Sandwich

The Arby’s classic roast beef sandwich contains:

• 360 calories
• 970mg sodium

That’s already 41% of the recommended daily sodium limit of 2,300mg in just one regular roast beef sandwich!

It’s enough sodium to make you seriously thirsty after eating it. No wonder Arby’s sells so much soda!

Sodium in Arby’s French Dip Roast Beef Sandwich

Taking it up a notch, the Arby’s French Dip roast beef sandwich has:

• 540 calories
• 2,550mg sodium

So basically your entire daily recommended sodium intake is in one French Dip sandwich. That’s absolutely insane! ‍

You might need an IV saline drip to recover from all that salt. And don’t even think about getting it with the au jus dip, which adds even more sodium.

Sodium in Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar Roast Beef Sandwich

As if the sodium counts weren’t crazy enough already, the Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwich really takes things over the top:

• 710 calories
• 3,060mg sodium

That’s right, this Arby’s menu staple has over 100% of the recommended daily limit for sodium in just one sandwich!

At this point, you might as well just sprinkle salt on your tongue and wash it down with soy sauce. It would probably be healthier than housing an entire Beef ‘n Cheddar in one sitting.

Comparing Arby’s Roast Beef Sodium to Other Restaurants

To put Arby’s over-the-top sodium numbers into perspective, here’s how their roast beef sandwiches compare to similar options from other popular chains:

• Arby’s Roast Beef – 970mg sodium
• Subway Roast Beef – 590mg sodium
• Quiznos Roast Beef – 670mg sodium
• Jimmy John’s Roast Beef – 810mg sodium

As you can see, no one even comes close to Arby’s sky-high sodium content. Subway’s comparable roast beef sandwich has nearly 500mg less salt!

Clearly, Arby’s is in a sodium league of its own when it comes to piling on the salt.

Health Concerns About Eating Too Much Sodium

Consuming extremely high levels of sodium can negatively impact health in various ways:

• Increased blood pressure
• Higher risk of heart disease and stroke
• Fluid retention
• Kidney problems

That’s why health experts recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300mg per day as part of an overall healthy diet.

But with a single Arby’s sandwich containing over 100% of your daily limit, it’s easy to see how eating too many could quickly send your sodium intake through the roof.

Tips For Reducing Sodium When Eating Arby’s Roast Beef

Here are some tips to help enjoy Arby’s roast beef without going overboard on salt:

• Stick to the Classic Roast Beef and avoid extra cheesy options or heavy sauces.

• Ask for no seasoning on the meat to minimize added sodium.

• Get a side salad instead of salt-heavy curly fries.

• Opt for water or diet soda instead of salty soft drinks.

• Split a sandwich with a friend to reduce your overall sodium intake.

Following a low-sodium diet doesn’t mean swearing off Arby’s entirely. You just need to make smart choices to control your salt exposure from their famously salty roast beef.

Should You Say Goodbye to Arby’s If You’re Sodium-Conscious?

For those who are sodium-sensitive or on a doctor-recommended low-sodium diet, Arby’s offerings pose an obvious problem. Consuming even one roast beef sandwich could easily exceed your safe daily limits.

In those cases, you may need to avoid Arby’s roast beef completely and choose lower-sodium options like their deli-style turkey sandwiches. Or if you can’t resist the salty allure of Arby’s beef, at least limit your visits to rare occasions instead of making it a regular habit.

However, if you are generally healthy, an occasional indulgence in Arby’s high-sodium roast beef likely won’t cause harm. Just be mindful of your total daily sodium intake on those days. Moderation and balance is key.

I will certainly be more conscious of just how incredibly salt-heavy Arby’s roast beef really is from now on. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull when I saw the nutrition stats! But I still plan to enjoy an overstuffed Beef ‘n Cheddar every now and then as a special treat.