WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney
problems, your doctor may recommend a low-salt diet. That
usually means no more than 2 grams (2,000 milligrams) of sodium
per day.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
Do not add salt to food during cooking or eating. (Check
with your doctor to find the safest salt-free seasoning for
you.) Read labels on all packaged foods to check for
sodium.
Many stores now carry a variety of low-sodium foods,
including cheese, soup, crackers, bread, salad dressing, and
snack chips. When buying any frozen or canned goods, always
choose low-sodium or low-salt brands. Avoid prepared frozen
meals with more than 400 milligrams of sodium per
serving.
Remember that even milk and yogurt contain sodium. Limit
your intake to 2 cups (16 ounces) a day. Regular cheeses also
contain salt; do not eat more than 3 ounces (the size of a deck
of cards) a week. And avoid the following items completely
(unless available in low-sodium form):
BEVERAGES to
Avoid
-
Bouillon
-
Buttermilk
-
Cocoa mixes
-
Malted milk
FATS to Avoid
-
Bacon
-
Dips made with regular
cheese
-
Salad dressings
-
Salt pork
-
Salted butter or
margarine
MEATS, FISH, and CHEESES to
Avoid
-
Anchovies
-
Blue cheese
-
Canned tuna, salmon,
sardines
-
Caviar
-
Chipped beef
-
Cold cuts and deli
meats
-
Corned beef
-
Cottage cheese
-
Ham
-
Hot dogs
-
Lox
-
Processed
cheeses
-
Salted or smoked meats and
fish
-
Sausages
BREADS and STARCHES to
Avoid
-
Breads and crackers with
salted tops
-
Boxed potato, rice, and
casserole mixes
-
Canned soups
-
Chips (potato, corn,
tortilla)
-
Instant hot
cereals
-
Pancake, biscuit, waffle
mixes
-
Pretzels
-
Salted popcorn
-
Saltines
-
Stuffing mixes
VEGETABLES to
Avoid
-
Canned vegetables with
salt
-
Dill pickles
-
Pickled beets, onions,
carrots
-
Sauerkraut
OTHER ITEMS to
Avoid
-
Baking powder
-
Baking soda
-
Barbecue sauces
-
Catsup
-
Consommé
-
Garlic or onion
salt
-
Gravy or sauce
mixes
-
Meat tenderizers and
sauces
-
Monosodium
glutamate
-
Olives
-
Pickling, kosher, or rock
salt
-
Prepared mustard and
horseradish
-
Relishes
-
Salsa and hot
sauce
-
Salt
substitutes
-
Salted nuts or
seeds
-
Sea salt
-
Self-rising
flour
-
Soup mixes
-
Soy and teriyaki
sauce
-
Steak and chili
sauces
-
Table salt
-
Tartar sauce
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