How to Cut Back on Salt

Cutting down on salt is very important for people who have health issues, especially with blood pressure. There are a number of simple and effective ways to cut down on salt in the diet.

The first way to cut down on salt is to try and to avoid consuming salty foods. This sounds like a no brainer. However, have you ever noticed when you start eating those nuts and potato chips that you just can't stop? That's because all the salt in those snacks trigger your cravings and cause you to want to eat more. So, try to avoid eating those chips all together. It's easier to just cut them out of your diet as opposed to eating fewer.

Using a salt substitute like Mrs. Dash is a good alternative. It has much less sodium than regular salt and can add a lot of flavor to food. In addition to using a direct substitute for salt, it also helps to use some different types of flavors. Using lemon and vinegar is also a great way to cut out the salt in the diet. Lemon and vinegar have almost the same effect on the taste buds that salt does and thus satisfy the desire for salt. Next time reach for the lemon on the fish or chicken instead of the salt. It adds a fresh clean flavor and a little tang. It's perfect on grilled foods. Use vinegar in soups, too, instead of more salt.

It is very important to also avoid cooking prepared and pre-packaged foods. Take a look at those frozen dinners and ramen noodles the next time you are shopping in the grocery store. You will see that they are loaded with sodium. Avoid them at all costs.

When buying vegetables there is also a basic rule of the hierarchy in which items should be purchased. Never buy canned when you can buy frozen. Never buy frozen when you can buy fresh. Canned foods will always have the most sodium. Frozen foods will have less. And, of course, fresh foods will have whatever amount of sodium that mother nature intended them to have. Fresh is obviously best, regardless of sodium content, since the food has not undergone any type of processing and maintains its nutrients.

Finally, don't automatically assume that the food you are eating needs salt. It is always important to taste before eating. Get used to eating foods more lightly salted and you will find, over time, that foods become more tolerable and more enjoyable with a little less salt.