Easy On The Salt

Too much of everything is not good, I'm sure you know that already. If you love salty foods and you go beyond the recommended daily allowance of 2000 to 3000 milligrams [that's about a teaspoon] you are prone to hypertension or high blood pressure. According to studies, lowering our lifetime intake of salt by just 1300 milligrams [or half a teaspoon] will reduce blood pressure.

To avoid the dangers of too much salt, here are some easy steps I got from Dr. Gerry H. Tan's article in Food Magazine. This will help us control our salt intake and move towards a healthier heart.

  1. Limit your salt intake to 1/2 to 3/4 of a teaspoon per day. This should include the salt used in cooking and in condiments and dipping sauces.
  2. Don't make a drastic cutback. Decrease your salt intake gradually. It will take 4 to 6 weeks before your taste buds adjust to less salt in your diet.
  3. Substitute lemon, herbs or spices for salt. your meals will not only be healthier but will also have added flavor.
  4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. These contain less salt than any other food on your table.
  5. Use your common sense. Stay away from chips and processed foods - these junk foods are loaded with salt.
  6. If you like processed canned foods, read the labels. You'll see that they're loaded with sodium. A simple technique like rinsing canned tuna, for example, will go a long way in removing excess sodium.


Mommy's Little Corner

Comments

Anonymous said…
im so fond of junk foods and "sawsawan" especially patis. everytime i load up on salt, i can feel my side aching. guess i have to lessen my salt intake after all. Thanks for this informative article (and eye-opener for me)
Anonymous said…
Hi...We are one of those families that gets sick of having the same things for supper all the time. I am always looking for something different that we will all enjoy for meals that are also not expensive. That is a big issue! Food stamps dont go very far! lol It is also hard trying to find something that my 3 year old with actually eat! I am glad he is not one of those kids that only like junk food and candy. He really loves alot of fruit and vegetables and rice, if there is rice in he dives right in. So I really enjoyed your blog and just wanted to let you know that I am going to add your page to my blog list. If you want to go ahead and take a look! thanks Amanda
Irene said…
OK..I am a salt addict, I admit it. I do tell myself to ct back and I do try, just maybe not hard enough,lol. But your article today gives me some much needed motivation. I am going to reform my salty ways!
Ousizch said…
hope u always have a great day. Today i'm begin blogwalking just want to share something that i get about blogwalking.

Thanks for ur comment.
Ish said…
once in my life i am a salt addict, but because of that i get UTI now i know that too much salt can lead to some diseases. nice post here baby!
Anonymous said…
its so hard to cut down on salt intake i so love to eat chips but i know its bad bad
Kat said…
I only put salt of my french fries and baked potatoes, other than that i never add salt to my already made food. I don't think i wasn't aware that about a teaspoon of salt should be all we should be consuming. Does that include the salt you cook with as well? i'm assuming it is... thanks for sharing.
Maya said…
There are time that i also take more than i should. but i often drink more water as cleansing.

And sadly to say i'm a junk food eater too.it's my comfort food. i know.. i'm often hiding to my kids whenever i have my attack on eating it.