What is a Low-Sodium Diet?
As a nation, we are completely over-salted: By some estimates, the average American consumes five tablespoons of salt each day. Experts say we need roughly ¼ teaspoon (which has 570 mg of sodium) to support essential body functions.
The good news, salt lovers, is that most adults can safely consume 2300 mg of sodium (about 1 tsp of salt) daily. Your doctor may want to re-evaluate that recommendation for you, however, and cap your intake at 1,500 mg – especially if you’re older than 51, African American, or have a health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Enter the low-sodium diet. Here are some general guidelines for it.
AVOID:
- Processed, packaged foods, including most frozen meals. (If you insist on frozen meals for convenience, look for ones with fewer than 600mg sodium.)
- Store-bought salad dressing. Make this creamy oregano-feta dressing or zesty honey-lemon dressing instead – and feel free to use even less salt than the recipe calls for.
- Smoked or cured meat, poultry or fish, including bacon and deli meats
- Salted nuts and canned beans (especially if you don’t rinse ‘em)
- Fruits and veggies
- Any beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish you buy
- Eggs
- Frozen or dried peas/beans (or low-sodium canned varieties, rinsed)
- Skip the salt shaker
- Add tart flavor flavor with orange, lemon, lime, pineapple juice or vinegar
- Season with fresh herbs or even fried herbs, like these crispy fried sage leaves
- Avoid garlic salt, onion salt, MSG, meat tenderizers
- Avoid most store-bought sauces and condiments. You won’t miss the sodium with this tangy coffee barbecue sauce
Author: Hope Cristol, MyRecipes
Source Links:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments_and_procedures/hic-your-sodium-controlled-diet
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/guidelines_for_a_low_sodium_diet/
