Low Sodium Diet: Diet Meal

The Low Sodium Diet website provides healthy heart low sodium diet, reduced sodium diet and and low salt diets, recipies, cooking and nutrition. Here you can find healthy eating low sodium, low salt and reduced sodium free diet and diet planners. We're always adding more free diet information, so check back often.

Low Sodium Diet Guidelines

Some studies have shown that a diet high in sodium may raise blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure many doctors recommend reducing your sodium intake to help lower blood pressure. Sodium is an essential mineral, but an average person only needs one quarter of a teaspoon of salt every day. A great deal of salt is often added in the preparation of processed foods. Always try to choose foods that have less salt. With your doctor's advice, you may want to choose salt substitutes. Softened water often contains salt, so try to avoid drinking softened water. Reducing or eliminating salty foods from meals is an important step in following a low sodium diet.

This free diet guide provides essential basic information to help you follow a low sodium diet. Planning what you eat and balancing your meals are important ways to manage your sodium intake. Healthy low sodium eating and cooking often means making changes to your current eating habits. Here are some basic guidelines that will help you get started:

1. Read labels carefully. Look for any form of sodium or salt and choose foods that have less salt and sodium.
2. Avoid eating fast foods. Fast foods are normally very high in salt, as are many other restaurant foods. When eating at restaurants, choose fish, vegetables or salads.
3. Eat at home. It's almost impossible to control the amount of sodium in foods prepared by others.
4. Avoid processed foods. Fresh meat, produce, fish are normall low in salt and sodium. Highly processed meals such as frozen dinners and canned soups are often high in sodium.
5. Don't add table salt to food.

Sample Low Sodium Diet Meal Menu Planner