Blog
Last week, Christine shared about American Heart Month, a time for us to focus on our heart health. One way to do that is to be more aware of the sodium we eat. Eating too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. But our bodies need sodium to function normally. Below are some ideas for finding a balance with the sodium we eat.
Get creative in the kitchen:
- Making homemade meals is a great way to avoid extra sodium found in packaged and restaurant meals. Find a new favorite recipe on our website.
- Salt boosts the flavor of savory and sweet foods, but so do other common ingredients. Instead of using the saltshaker, try topping your meal with one of these:
- The juice or grated peel of a lemon, lime, or orange.
- Sweet, hot, or dried peppers.
- Fresh or dried herbs. Find out more about fresh herbs here in our produce basics.
Make a habit of reading labels:
- The highest amounts of sodium in the American diet are found in packaged foods. Take some time to look at the labels on the foods in your kitchen. Compare them to find out which are lower and higher in sodium.
- Next time you are food shopping, read the food labels to find the sodium in different foods. Learn more about how to read food labels for sodium on our website.
Small changes can lead to big benefits:
- Eating less sodium can be easier when you make small changes over time. This is because the preference for salty flavors is learned by our bodies. Slowly reducing the amount of sodium you eat over time will change your tastes. Some small changes you can try are:
- Buy low- or no-sodium versions of packaged foods.
- Rinse canned vegetables and beans with cool water before adding them to a recipe.
- Put the salt shaker away to remind yourself to taste your food before adding extra sodium.
For American Heart Month this year, consider trying one of these ideas to be more aware of the sodium in the foods you eat.
