Eating your way to better health starts with mindful choices about salt intake. Excessive sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. To improve well-being, it’s crucial to identify high-sodium foods and learn to reduce your salt intake, particularly, processed foods, fast food, and restaurant meals that are often high in sodium.
Consider reducing your sodium intake through the following:
- At home: Eat more fruits and vegetables and use less prepared foods. Cook from scratch and use herbs and spices like garlic and lemon juice instead of salt. Prepare low-sodium recipes. Try a couple recipes from The Hasty Gourmet™ Low Salt Favorites (see the Recipes section) or search the internet where there’s an abundance of low-salt recipes.
- At the market: Choose low-sodium products and read labels carefully. Know how much sodium is in a serving. What is listed may be less than what you actually eat.
- When dining out: Request meals without added salt or ask for sauces and dressings on the side. Many restaurants offer healthier options upon request. Check nutritional info at their website, if available.
If you know the sodium content and make conscious decisions you can reduce your risk of hypertension and diseases associated with too much salt. Aim for no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, as recommended by the American Heart Association. By making these changes, you can enjoy a balanced diet and better health.
Click on a topic below to find out more.
