5 Tips on Reducing Salt Intake

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Eating less sodium can help lower some people's blood pressure. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Sodium is something we need in our diets, but most of us eat too much of it. Much of the sodium we eat comes from salt we add to our food at the table or that food companies add to their foods. So, avoid adding salt to foods at the table and use these 5 tips to reduce your salt intake:

• Take stock of the sources of salt in your diet, such as restaurant meals, salt-based condiments, and convenience foods. Some of these are really loaded with salt.
  
  
• Read the labels when shopping. Look for lower sodium in cereals, crackers, pasta sauces, canned vegetables, or any foods with low-salt options.
  
  
• If you think your meals are high in sodium, balance them by adding high-potassium foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
  
  
• Ask about salt added to food, especially at restaurants. Most restaurant chefs will omit salt when requested.
  
  
• If you need to salt while cooking, add the salt at the end; you will need to add much less. The longer the food cooks, the more the salty flavor is muted and at the end, the final taste is on the top layer.

For more, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:

• Nutrition Center
• High Blood Pressure Center
• Heart Disease Prevention Center

FDA Consumer magazine (November-December 1997)