Tips for eating less sodium and finding salt in your diet

Your body only needs about 2000 mg of sodium a day. Most people eat as much as 3000 – 6000 mg a day. Here are some ways you can cut down on the amount of salt you eat everyday:

eat fresh or dried fruits and vegetables or canned foods that are low salt or nor salt

take the salt shaker off the table

don’t add salt when you cook

eat baked, broiled, steamed or poached foods

don’t add salt to your food when cooking or at the table

try to keep the sodium levels at 500-700 mg per meal

avoid fast foods

when you eat canned foods, drain off the liquid and rinse before you cook

learn to read food labels to help you shop for healthier foods

read food labels for words like salt, sodium, and ingredients that contain sodium like MSG

look for labels that say “no salt added”

“low-sodium” on a food label means 140 mg or less sodium per serving

learn serving sizes (not portions!) and eat the right servings so your sodium counts are accurate

avoid sauces, breading, or salad dressings that could add salt to your meal

avoid convenience foods like frozen dinners, deli dinner, cold cuts, and canned soups—many of these are high in sodium

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, try to limit your sodium intake to 2400 mg a day.?

Tags: Potassium in biology, Nutrition facts label, Nutrition, salt, Cooking, sodium