Low Salt Diet for High Blood Pressure

Patients who are diagnosed with high blood pressure are often prescribed a low sodium diet. Reducing the amount of salt in the diet can be difficult at first. Many of the prepared foods that we eat have a great deal of sodium already included in the ingredients. Adding more salt to these foods only increases the amount of sodium that we consume every day.

Ingredient Labels

• On a low sodium diet, it is vital that you read the labels of every food that you consume. In the beginning of a low salt diet, you may be unaware of the amount of sodium in the foods that you regularly eat. Reading labels will open your eyes to the sodium in your foods and also show you the lower levels in low sodium foods.

  Look for other ingredients on the labels that are salt such as brine, sodium citrate, monosodium glutamate, baking soda and garlic salt. Every label should be examined to determine how much sodium or salt is in the food. Condiments such as ketchup, steak sauce, mustard, soy sauce and marinades are notoriously high in sodium or salt.

  When lowering your salt intake for high blood pressure, it is best to stay away from processed or cured foods such as bacon. Pickled foods also have a high level of sodium as well.

Adding Flavor Without Salt

• It is possible to stick with a low sodium diet for your blood pressure and still have flavor in your foods. Salt is an acquired taste and it will only take a short period of time before you lose your taste for it. Add fresh herbs for flavor and experiment a little with various flavorings in your food.

  Add lemon and lime to your cooking to add a zesty touch to a dish. Garlic, pepper, basil, dill, rosemary, sage, curry and many other herbs and spices can add a zip to your cooking. Once you begin experimenting with other spices and herbs, you will wonder why you every relied so heavily on salt. Not only will you have some wonderful new recipes for your family, but you will also help to decrease everyone's sodium intake. These simple changes to your cooking style can have a dramatic effect on your blood pressure.

Salt Substitutes

• There are a few different salt substitutes on the market that you can use in your cooking. Some of the salt substitutes are made with herbs that can add an interesting flavor to your food that is close to a salty taste. Other salt substitutes are made with a lower amount of sodium and potassium chloride. When using these salt substitutes, make sure that you keep an eye on the amount of sodium you are adding to your food. A nutritionist can help you make good decisions regarding salt substitutes for your low sodium, high blood pressure diet.

  Once you become accustomed to using a salt substitute in your cooking along with fresh herbs and spices, you will find that your food tastes better without being overloaded with salt. In addition, your blood pressure will benefit for it as well.