How can I start eating a low-sodium diet?
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff answered:A low-sodium diet generally means you should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. That's why it is important to read the sodium content on the Nutrition Facts panel on product labels.
When shopping, choose less processed foods. They tend to have a lot of sodium. Be especially careful about:
- Canned products (soups, vegetables)
- Frozen foods ("TV" dinners)
- Ready-to-eat convenience or fast food
- Processed meats and cheeses (lunch meats like ham, salami and pastrami)
- Packaged snacks (chips, pretzels, nuts)
- Whole fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grain breads, cereals and pasta
- Lean meat, poultry and fish
- Ketchup
- Barbecue sauce
- Soy sauce
- Steak sauce
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A low-sodium diet generally means you should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. That's why it is important to read the sodium content on the Nutrition Facts panel on product labels.When shopping, choose less processed foods.... More -
Toby Smithson of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend 2300 milligrams sodium/day for the general population and 1500 milligrams for people aged 51 and older, all African Americans, and people with diabetes, or high blood pressure or kidney disease. Best tips for starting to eat a lower sodium diet are:
- Purchase whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables
- Cook at home more often than eating out to help control the sodium in your food
- When you dine out, request lower sodium options (such as eliminating the sodium used in cooking)
- Choose no added salt varieties of canned soups and vegetables
- Compare food labels at the grocery store and choose the comparison food with the lower sodium level
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend 2300 milligrams sodium/day for the general population and 1500 milligrams for people aged 51 and older, all African Americans, and people with diabetes, or high blood pressure or kidney disease. Best tips for... More -
Judy Caplan of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:First step is to remove the saltshaker from the table. Next avoid the obvious salty foods like chips, soy sauce, canned fish, canned soups, bread, and certain cheeses. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Avoid packaged, processed foods. Diet sodas also contain sodium. Fried foods often contain large amounts of sodium, as does Chinese and Japanese food. Most restaurant food is over salted. Cook more from scratch, read labels, and limit sodium to less than 2000 mg. per day.
First step is to remove the saltshaker from the table. Next avoid the obvious salty foods like chips, soy sauce, canned fish, canned soups, bread, and certain cheeses. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean... More
