Module 2 Pull Down Navigation - Select a Page to View ------------------- Introduction What is a Low-Sodium Diet? How Do I Follow a Low-Sodium Diet? Step 1: Stop Adding Salt to Food Step 2: Adapt Your Preferred Foods to Low-Sodium Versions Step 3: Pick Foods Naturally Low in Sodium Step 4: Learn to Read Food Labels Reading a Food Label for Sodium Content Other Tips to Help You Get Started Tracking the Sodium in Your Diet Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Nurse Questions and Answers About a Low-Sodium Diet Low-Sodium Spices, Herbs, Seasonings and Condiments High-Sodium Spices, Herbs, Seasonings and Condiments Foods with Less Than 10 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 10 to 40 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 40 to 65 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 65 to 120 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 120 to 175 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 175 to 350 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 350 to 500 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with 500 to 800 mg of Sodium Per Serving Foods with More Than 800 mg of Sodium Per Serving Examples of Low-Sodium Foods Examples of High-Sodium Foods High-Sodium Foods and Low-Sodium Alternatives Examples of Sodium Content of Fast Foods Learn More About Heart Failure

Other Tips to Help You Get Started

It can be difficult to change your eating habits. It may take weeks before you enjoy the taste of low-sodium foods, but your taste buds will adjust. Eventually you may not even miss the salt.

The tips listed below can help you get off to a good start:

• Make changes slowly instead of all at once.
  
  
• Adapt things you like to eat so they are lower in sodium, rather than trying to totally change your diet.
  
  
• Keep a list of low-sodium foods in the kitchen. The refrigerator is a good spot. View this chart for a list of some low-sodium foods.
  
  
• Learn which foods are high-sodium, and do not buy them. That way you will not be tempted to eat them. View this chart for a list of some high-sodium foods.
  
  
• When picking entrees or main food items, no more than one food item should have more than 500 mg of sodium.
  
  Think about it this way - if your doctor or nurse recommended that you eat 2,000 mg of sodium in a day, 500 mg is one-fourth of your daily amount.
  
  
• Make a list of the amount of sodium you eat with each meal for a few days. The following section and chart explain how to track your sodium intake.