Diets high in sodium may raise blood pressure and increase risk for heart disease and strokes. Ideally sodium intake should be no more than 2400 mg. One teaspoon of salt is 2300 mg of sodium. Can you see why salting your foods could be contributing to too much sodium?
To reduce sodium intake, ditch the salt shaker. For a while, foods may taste a bit more bland but your taste buds WILL readjust. Just hang in there. Also, look for lower sodium packaged foods. A good rule of thumb: if there are more mg of sodium than there are calories, the food is high in sodium. If there is less sodium than calories, the food is low in sodium. Just balance high sodium choices with lower sodium choices.
Emily Fonnesbeck RD,CD
