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Low-Sodium Diet by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD

What Is a Low-Sodium Diet?

A low-sodium diet restricts the amount of sodium (salt) in your diet. On this diet, you should aim to consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. This is the amount in about one teaspoon of table salt.

Sodium is a mineral found in many foods. Most people consume much more sodium than they need. Diets high in sodium can increase blood pressure. A high-sodium diet can also increase your risk of stroke . Reducing your sodium intake can help lower blood pressure.

What Foods Are Highest in Sodium?

Foods highest in sodium include table salt (about 50% sodium), convenience foods, preserved foods, and processed foods. Examples of processed foods include:

Canned foods
Frozen dinners
Snack food
Packaged starchy foods (eg, seasoned rice, instant mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese)
Baking mixes
Deli meats and cheeses
Sausages and cured or smoked meats

Food Choices on a Low-Sodium Diet

Grains

Recommended foods:

Breads and rolls without salted tops
Ready-to-eat and uncooked cereals (with less than 5% Daily Value [DV] for sodium)
Muffins
Unsalted crackers and breadsticks
Low-sodium or homemade breadcrumbs or stuffing
Rice, pasta, bulgur, couscous (prepared without salt)

Foods to avoid:

Breads, rolls, and crackers with salted tops
Quick breads, self-rising flour, and biscuit mixes
Regular bread crumbs
Instant hot cereals
Commercially prepared rice, pasta, or stuffing mixes

Vegetables

Recommended foods:

All fresh vegetables
Frozen and canned vegetables without added salt
Low-sodium vegetable juices

Foods to avoid:

Regular canned vegetables and juices
Sauerkraut
Frozen vegetables with sauces
Commercially prepared potato and vegetable mixes

Fruits

Recommended foods:

Fresh, frozen, and canned juices
Fruit juices

Foods to avoid:

None

Milk

Recommended foods:

Milk
Yogurt
Hard cheeses (including Swiss, cheddar, and Monterey Jack)
Low-sodium cheeses (including ricotta, cream cheese, and mozzarella)
Ice cream

Foods to avoid:

Processed cheese, cottage cheese, cheese spreads, and sauces
Buttermilk

Meats and Beans

Recommended foods:

Fresh or frozen beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, and shellfish
Eggs and egg substitutes
Low-sodium peanut butter
Dried peas and beans
Unsalted nuts

Foods to avoid:

Smoked, cured, salted, or canned meat, fish, or poultry (including bacon, cold cuts, frankfurters, sausages, sardines, and anchovies)
Frozen, breaded meats
Salted nuts

Fats and Oils

Recommended foods:

Low-sodium or unsalted butter and margarine spreads
Low-sodium salad dressings made with oil

Foods to avoid:

Oil mixed with other, high-sodium ingredients (eg, salad dressing)

Snacks, Sweets, and Condiments

Recommended foods:

Low-sodium or unsalted versions of broths, soups, soy sauce, condiments, and snack foods
Pepper, herbs, spices, vinegar, lemon, or lime juice
Ice cream, sherbet, homemade pie, and pudding without added salt

Foods to avoid:

Broth, soups, gravies, and sauces made from instant mixes or other high-sodium ingredients
Salted snack foods
Olives
Meat tenderizers, seasoning salt, and most flavored vinegars
Commercial dessert mixes, cake, pie, instant pudding

Beverages

Recommended beverages:

Most beverages

Beverages to avoid:

Commercially softened water

Suggestions

Include a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in your diet. Whenever possible, choose whole foods over processed foods.
Read food labels. Look for products marked as:
- Sodium-free
- Very low-sodium
- Low-sodium
- No added salt
- Unsalted
Skip the salt when cooking or at the table. If food needs more flavor, be creative. Try different herbs and spices. Garlic and onion also add a lot of flavor to foods.
Avoid fast food and convenience food. They generally have a lot of added salt.
Talk to a registered dietitian for individualized diet advice.

RESOURCES:

American Dietetic Association http://www.eatright.org/
American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Dietitians of Canada http://www.dietitians.ca/
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/splash/

References:

American Dietetic Association. Nutrition Care Manual website. Available at: http://www.nutritioncaremanual.org . Accessed January 13, 2010.
American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org . Accessed December 8, 2009.
3/5/2013 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us : Dinicolantonio JJ, Pasquale PD, Taylor RS, et al. Low sodium versus normal sodium diets in systolic heart failure: systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart . 2013 Jan 24. [Epub ahead of print.]

Last reviewed March 2013 by Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Low-Sodium Diet by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD

What Is a Low-Sodium Diet?

What Foods Are Highest in Sodium?

Food Choices on a Low-Sodium Diet

Grains

Vegetables

Fruits

Milk

Meats and Beans

Fats and Oils

Snacks, Sweets, and Condiments

Beverages

Suggestions

RESOURCES:

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

References:

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