Low Sodium Diet

• A low sodium diet doesn’t mean you have to cook some special food for yourself. It means you have to just cut down the salt amount from your diet.
• Avoid eating salty food like salted potato chips, salted cashew, salted peanuts etc.
• Use less salt in cooking.
• Softened water contains added salt. To minimize salt intake, avoid softened water for cooking and drinking.
• Keep away the salt shaker from your table.
• Go creative and use different spices, herbs, lemon, wine etc to jazz up your food.
• Avoid sauces like soy sauce that has high sodium content.
• While shopping look for low sodium products.
• You can ask your physician for a recommendation of salt substitutes.
• Low salt diets shouldn't contain more than 1 teaspoon (2,300 mg) of sodium per day.
• Read ingredient labels to identify foods high in sodium when shopping for different food products. High-sodium food additives include salt, baking powder, brine or other items that say "sodium," such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).

 High Sodium Food

• Smoked, cured, salted or canned meat
• Fish or poultry including bacon, cold cuts, ham, frankfurters, sausage, sardines, caviar and anchovies
• Frozen meats, burritos and pizza
• Bread and rolls with salted tops
• Quick breads, self-rising flour, biscuit, pancake and waffle mixes
• Pizza, croutons and salted crackers
• Prepackaged, processed mixes for potatoes, rice, pasta and stuffing

Low Sodium Food

• Any fresh or frozen beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish
• Eggs and egg substitutes
• Low-sodium peanut butter
• Dry peas and beans (not canned)
• Low-sodium canned fish
• Drained, water or oil packed canned fish or poultry
• Milk, yogurt, ice cream and ice milk
• Low-sodium cheeses, cream cheese, ricotta cheese and mozzarella
• Buttermilk
• Regular and processed cheese
• Cheese spreads and sauces
• Cottage cheese
• Fresh vegetables
• Frozen vegetables without sauces
• Low-sodium canned vegetables, sauces and juices
• Fresh potatoes
• Frozen French fries and instant mashed potatoes
• Low-salt tomato or V-8 juice.
• Fresh fruits
• Fruit juices
• Milk shakes

If your doctor has recommended you low sodium diet as a part of a treatment, these tips will help you to eat smart and keep a check on your daily sodium intake.