Why low sodium diet
Ingredients are listed in order of the amount the food contains. Too much sodium in your diet can be bad for you. For this reason, it is better to buy fresh foods. For most people, dietary sodium comes from salt that is in or added to their food. JavaScript is required in order for our site to behave correctly. UMass Medical School Section Editor George L Bakris, MD George L Bakris, MD Editor-in-Chief — Nephrology. A healthy level of sodium in the diet contains fewer than 2. Authors Norman M Kaplan, MD Norman M Kaplan, MD Editor-in-Chief — Nephrology. Stay away from foods that are always high in salt. Please enable your JavaScript to continue use our site. When you go out to eat, stick to steamed, grilled, baked, boiled, and broiled foods with no added salt, sauce, or cheese. 3 grams (2300 milligrams, or about the amount of sodium in one teaspoon) of sodium each day. LOW-SODIUM DIET OVERVIEW Sodium is an element that is found in many foods as well as water. This topic will review how to read food labels, how to choose foods that are lower in sodium, and how to live with less salt. However, most people consume many times the amount of sodium needed. Do not eat foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG). Also buy: Fresh meats, chicken or turkey, and fish Fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits Look for these words on labels: Low-sodium sodium-free No salt added Sodium-reduced Unsalted Check all labels for how much salt foods contain per serving. People with certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart problems can benefit from a diet that is lower in sodium. It seems to us that you have your JavaScript turned off on your browser. When the sodium intake is lowered from 4000 mg to 2000 mg per day, blood pressure falls by 2 to 3 mmHg.
Use garlic and onion powder, not garlic and onion salt. Eating a variety of foods every day can help you limit salt. Even people with normal blood pressure will have lower (and healthier) blood pressure if they lower how much salt they eat. Eat fresh fruit or sorbet for dessert, when you have dessert. Reducing sodium can also help to prevent the collection of fluid in the lower legs or abdomen. Pepper, garlic, herbs, and lemon are good choices. Avoid foods that list salt near the top of the list of ingredients. For some people, 1,500 mg a day is an even better goal. The University of Chicago Deputy Editor John P Forman, MD, MSc John P Forman, MD, MSc Deputy Editor — Nephrology. Canned foods often contain salt to preserve the color of the food and keep it looking fresh. If you think the restaurant might use MSG, ask them not to add it to your order. This reduction may be as great as 10 mmHg over several years and can substantially lower the risk of heart disease. To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what antacids and laxatives contain little or no salt, if you need these medicines. UpToDate allows you to search in the languages below. In addition to directly reducing blood pressure, a lower sodium intake may also enhance the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications and other non-drug treatments, such as weight loss. Your doctor may tell you to eat no more than 2,300 mg a day when you have these conditions. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, LDN Barbara Olendzki, RD, MPH, LDN Assistant Professor of Medicine. The body requires a small amount of sodium in the diet to control blood pressure and blood volume. Reducing sodium intake lowers blood pressure in people with high and borderline high blood pressure. A product with less than 100 mg of salt per serving is good.
