Low Sodium Diet- Eating Plan

Sodium, which is an element that makes up salt, helps you maintain a healthy balance of fluids in your body. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure and cause fluid and waste to be held in your body.

Your health care provider or dietitian may recommend following this plan if you have high blood pressure (hypertension), kidney disease, liver disease, or heart failure. Eating less sodium can help lower your blood pressure, reduce swelling, and protect your heart, liver, and kidneys.

What are tips for following this plan?

General guidelines

• Most people on this plan should limit their sodium intake to 1,500–2,000 mg (milligrams) of sodium each day.

Reading food labels

• The Nutrition Facts label lists the amount of sodium in one serving of the food. If you eat more than one serving, you must multiply the listed amount of sodium by the number of servings.
• Choose foods with less than 140 mg of sodium per serving.
• Avoid foods with 300 mg of sodium or more per serving.

Shopping

• Look for lower-sodium products, often labeled as “low-sodium” or “no salt added.”
• Always check the sodium content even if foods are labeled as “unsalted” or “no salt added”.
• Buy fresh foods.
  • Avoid canned foods and premade or frozen meals.
  • Avoid canned, cured, or processed meats
• Buy breads that have less than 80 mg of sodium per slice.

Cooking

• Eat more home-cooked food and less restaurant, buffet, and fast food.
• Avoid adding salt when cooking. Use salt-free seasonings or herbs instead of table salt or sea salt. Check with your health care provider or pharmacist before using salt substitutes.
• Cook with plant-based oils, such as canola, sunflower, or olive oil.

Meal planning

• When eating at a restaurant, ask that your food be prepared with less salt or no salt, if possible.
• Avoid foods that contain MSG (monosodium glutamate). MSG is sometimes added to Chinese food, bouillon, and some canned foods.

What foods are recommended?

The items listed may not be a complete list. Talk with your dietitian about what dietary choices are best for you.

Grains

Low-sodium cereals, including oats, puffed wheat and rice, and shredded wheat. Low-sodium crackers. Unsalted rice. Unsalted pasta. Low-sodium bread. Whole-grain breads and whole-grain pasta.

Vegetables

Fresh or frozen vegetables. “No salt added” canned vegetables. “No salt added” tomato sauce and paste. Low-sodium or reduced-sodium tomato and vegetable juice.

Fruits

Fresh, frozen, or canned fruit. Fruit juice.

Meats and other protein foods

Fresh or frozen (no salt added) meat, poultry, seafood, and fish. Low-sodium canned tuna and salmon. Unsalted nuts. Dried peas, beans, and lentils without added salt. Unsalted canned beans. Eggs. Unsalted nut butters.

Dairy

Milk. Soy milk. Cheese that is naturally low in sodium, such as ricotta cheese, fresh mozzarella, or Swiss cheese Low-sodium or reduced-sodium cheese. Cream cheese. Yogurt.

Fats and oils

Unsalted butter. Unsalted margarine with no trans fat. Vegetable oils such as canola or olive oils.

Seasonings and other foods

Fresh and dried herbs and spices. Salt-free seasonings. Low-sodium mustard and ketchup. Sodium-free salad dressing. Sodium-free light mayonnaise. Fresh or refrigerated horseradish. Lemon juice. Vinegar. Homemade, reduced-sodium, or low-sodium soups. Unsalted popcorn and pretzels. Low-salt or salt-free chips.

What foods are not recommended?

The items listed may not be a complete list. Talk with your dietitian about what dietary choices are best for you.

Grains

Instant hot cereals. Bread stuffing, pancake, and biscuit mixes. Croutons. Seasoned rice or pasta mixes. Noodle soup cups. Boxed or frozen macaroni and cheese. Regular salted crackers. Self-rising flour.

Vegetables

Sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, and relishes. Olives. French fries. Onion rings. Regular canned vegetables (not low-sodium or reduced-sodium). Regular canned tomato sauce and paste (not low-sodium or reduced-sodium). Regular tomato and vegetable juice (not low-sodium or reduced-sodium). Frozen vegetables in sauces.

Meats and other protein foods

Meat or fish that is salted, canned, smoked, spiced, or pickled. Bacon, ham, sausage, hotdogs, corned beef, chipped beef, packaged lunch meats, salt pork, jerky, pickled herring, anchovies, regular canned tuna, sardines, salted nuts.

Dairy

Processed cheese and cheese spreads. Cheese curds. Blue cheese. Feta cheese. String cheese. Regular cottage cheese. Buttermilk. Canned milk.

Fats and oils

Salted butter. Regular margarine. Ghee. Bacon fat.

Seasonings and other foods

Onion salt, garlic salt, seasoned salt, table salt, and sea salt. Canned and packaged gravies. Worcestershire sauce. Tartar sauce. Barbecue sauce. Teriyaki sauce. Soy sauce, including reduced-sodium. Steak sauce. Fish sauce. Oyster sauce. Cocktail sauce. Horseradish that you find on the shelf. Regular ketchup and mustard. Meat flavorings and tenderizers. Bouillon cubes. Hot sauce and Tabasco sauce. Premade or packaged marinades. Premade or packaged taco seasonings. Relishes. Regular salad dressings. Salsa. Potato and tortilla chips. Corn chips and puffs. Salted popcorn and pretzels. Canned or dried soups. Pizza. Frozen entrees and pot pies.

Summary

• Eating less sodium can help lower your blood pressure, reduce swelling, and protect your heart, liver, and kidneys.
• Most people on this plan should limit their sodium intake to 1,500–2,000 mg (milligrams) of sodium each day.
• Canned, boxed, and frozen foods are high in sodium. Restaurant foods, fast foods, and pizza are also very high in sodium. You also get sodium by adding salt to food.
• Try to cook at home, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat less fast food, canned, processed, or prepared foods.