10 No-Effort Ways to Reduce Your Sodium Intake

Here's 10 "no-effort" ways to make a difference in limiting your salt.

1) Shop the perimeter of your supermarket. Most healthy foods your supermarket offers can be found in the outside aisles of your market in a "U" shape. Start at produce and choose generous proportions as you head to the back of the store. Once at the back-check out fresh meats, seafood and fresh gourmet options. On the last turn in your "u" shaped trek choose dairy, fresh squeezed juices and breads (Pepperidge Farms has the best commercial options in breads overall for low salt, sugar, whole grains and other good stuff). If you take notice almost all the processed foods are located in the inner aisles. Avoid these aisles as much as possible. If your market has a bulk food section, look for organic nuts, rice and other grains. 2...Drink your vegetables. It's easier to drink an unpleasant food than it is to eat it. When you drink your vegetables you eliminate the salt. Check in produce for brands such as Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness (delicious) and Naked brand juices. 3...Don't be afraid to try low sodium foods they taste just as good as the high-salt options. Low sodium foods can cut your salt intake for the particular product by up to 50%. Read the label. 4...Remove the salt shaker from the table. 5...Clean your palate with a drink of spring water before eating, you'll appreciate the food flavors more. 6...Go heavy on herbs and spices, not only do they provide disease fighting minerals, but they boost the flavor of foods. Choose fresh ground. Check out Spice and Tease for a huge selection of pure herbs, teas, spices and and ready-mix spice blends. 7...Buy sea salt instead of table salt. Sea salt contains 10% less sodium than table salt with essential minerals and taste to boot. Saltworks.us is an nice source with free shipping through summer 2011. Use pre-measured salt packets. The most popular brand apportions the packet in 4 tube shaped sections. Cut the packet lengthwise in half of two tubes each. Then use one or two tubes per meal! 8...Buy frozen vegetables, never canned. Look for frozen vegetables without added salt. These are readily available in most supermarkets. 9...If you like margaritas, request to salt only half the rim. It'll still look pretty. 10. Brush salt off pretzels and other foods that have coarse salt on top. 10. Forgo "healthy" selections at fast food restaurants-they're loaded with sodium. Bag your own!

Remember...Eat to live, progress beyond living to eat.

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