Four Easy Ways to Lower Your Sodium Intake

In recent years, more people are trying to lower their sodium intake as the negative health consequences of a diet that is high in salt become increasing apparent. Here are four easy ways to lower your sodium intake without feeling like you are giving up all of your favorite foods.

Lose the Salt Shaker

The first step to lowering your sodium intake is to remove your salt shaker from the table. While it is true that the human body requires a certain amount of sodium every day, there is so much salt in the average person's diet that it is very uncommon that anyone needs to supplement their sodium intake with table salt. It may take some getting used to not sprinkling salt on certain common foods like potatoes and some chicken dishes at first, there are plenty of other tasty ways to spice up these products. Soon, you will be comfortable with removing the salt shaker from your table, maybe even your kitchen, permanently.

Shop on the Periphery of the Grocery Store

One of keys to shopping for healthy food in a modern grocery store is to avoid the center aisles as much as possible and stick to the periphery of the market where the store offers fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products and, if you choose, freshly cut meat. Much of the food that is stocked in the actual aisles of a grocery store is heavily processed food that often contains an astounding amount of salt. If you do nothing else to lower your sodium intake, avoid certain canned goods like soups and seasoned vegetables, as well as heavily salted dry goods like ramen and boxes of spiced rice.

Have a Plan of Attack for Eating on the Go

The most challenging part of making any significant change in your diet is finding healthy foods when you are away from home or the office. Make a list of snack foods that you like that are low in sodium and be sure to have at least one or two items with you when you are on the go. Don't feel shy about recommending restaurants that offer healthier meals when you are heading out for lunch or dinner with your family or friends, and be familiar with the lower sodium entrees at your favorite local restaurants. Nearly everyone has a few high sodium foods like pizza or certain types of soul food that they like to indulge in from time to time, just be sure that you are aware of the extra salt that you are ingesting on these occasions.

Replace Salty Foods with Other Foods that You Love

Remember, it is not necessary to give up your enjoyment of one of life's simplest pleasures just because you are trying to lower your sodium intake. If you don't care for carrot sticks and celery, replacing salty snacks with rabbit food is going to be difficult to get used to. There are plenty of other tasty food flavors that are much more pleasant than salt, such as garlic, hot sauce and various healthy herbs and spices. In time, salty foods will begin to taste downright unpleasant as your tastes in food adapt to a healthier lifestyle.