Getting salty?
We’re not just talking about your mood here—we’re talking about your salt intake. Salt Awareness Week is the perfect time to check in with yourself and see how much sodium you’re consuming on a daily basis, and how you can live a lower-sodium life.
Although it’s found naturally in many of the foods we eat, most of the salt in our diets comes from processed foods (like frozen pizzas, canned soup, and deli meats) or restaurant meals. It’s essential for maintaining fluid balance and healthy nerve function within our bodies, but too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
You can start by checking out these 7 tips for cutting down on salt consumption:
1. Use fresh herbs and spices instead of adding salt directly to your food.
2. Don’t use salt substitutes – they’re just as bad for you as regular salt!
3. Buy low-sodium or no-salt versions of foods like soup, bread, and crackers.
4. Ask for no added salt when eating out at restaurants or buying meals from delis and cafes (or make them yourself at home!).
5. Use lemon juice as a seasoning instead of adding more salt to your food (it’s delicious on salads too!).
6. Cut back slowly over time so your taste buds have time to adjust – don’t go cold turkey all at once!
7. Avoid snacks like chips, pretzels, and popcorn that are loaded with sodium content — try munching on some fresh fruits or veggies instead!
Clearly, salt has crept into a lot of our foods without most of us really noticing. But now that you’ve been given the tip-off, you can push yourself to be more aware of food’s hidden ingredient and make sure that your own intake is healthy as well.
