Low Sodium Diet

One of the biggest concerns that people face today is their health.  While all illnesses are scary, an affliction that nobody would ever want is a heart failure.  Considering how important our heart is in our overall health, a heart failure is the last thing that anybody could ever want.  However, many people find themselves with heart problems.  If this is the case, then you may want to find out how the Low Sodium Diet can help you regain your health.

The Low Sodium Diet is a diet that is designed to assist people who have suffered from heart failure or who have high blood pressure and are at risk of a heart failure.  It restricts the amount of food high in sodium contents from a person’s diet.  This is due to the fact that a person’s body will hold on to extra amounts of sodium following a heart failure.  If this is to occur, your heart will have to work harder due to the buildup of fluid in your body caused by extra amounts of sodium.  From a health perspective, this high amount of sodium can be disastrous and can result in such symptoms as: weight gain, feeling short of breath, and the swelling of your ankles, feet, or abdomen.

By going on a low sodium diet, you will be able to lower your blood pressure and either reduce the chance of heart failure or recover from heart failure.  While many people call the Low Sodium Diet, the Low Salt Diet, it is important to note that most food contains some level of sodium content.  Although salt contains a high level of sodium, you still have to worry about other foods that you eat.  It is recommended that when you are on a low sodium diet, that you restrict your daily sodium intake to less than 2000 mg of sodium per day.  Many health practitioners recommend that you should limit your daily intake of sodium to 1500mg.

When you go on the low sodium diet, it is recommended that you check the sodium content of food that you may possibly eat.  You should use little salt in any food that you prepare.  It is recommended that you do not eat any fast foods and avoid eating food with high sodium content like: ketchup, mustard, pickles, olives, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, chili sauce, luncheon meats, bacon, canned sardines, canned soup, canned vegetables, salted nuts, salted cracker, pretzels, popcorn, commercial salad dressings, instant cooked cereals, and peanut butter.

One of the biggest concerns that people have when embarking on a low sodium diet is its effect on the taste of food.   However, there are more and more products that advertise themselves as low sodium that are still delicious.  Also, it is easy to replace the flavor of salt when you are cooking food with such substitutes as: parsley, garlic, onions, lemon juice, dill weed, basil, mushrooms, celery, red pepper, and tarragon.  Additionally, you can develop healthy eating habits with your low sodium diet.  That is because the Low Sodium Diet recommends eating fresh food and using healthy seasoning such as lemon juice and unsalted margarine.