As we all know, salt is "white death." Doctors at health care centers frequently suggest a low-sodium diet to regulate the amount of sodium in the blood and the body’s electrolyte balance.
This diet is good for the prevention of:
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Obesity
- Edema
You can find salt in many popular products, especially junk food: chips, burgers, canned food, and sausages. At the same time, we add salt to almost every meal every day. Salt (namely sodium) is an essential mineral for us. But it turns out that with modern foods an average person consumes about six times the amount that our bodies really need per day! And if you don't control your sodium intake, it can lead to diseases.
If you stop adding salt to your meals, you will still get your five to seven grams of sodium per day from other foods. In fact, you can find it in foods you wouldn’t expect to contain sodium: meat, fruits, and vegetables. Carefully read the labels on the products that you eat, and you will learn a lot!
The best thing about a preventative low-sodium diet is that you can stick to it for a long time and still eat almost everything — cereal, butter, cheese, fruits, vegetables, meat, and soups. Just cook for yourself and do not add salt. You can also increase your daily intake of foods that contain sodium: cabbage, beans, celery, raisins, milk, eggs, seaweed, and fish. To substitute for salt, try adding some spices and lemon juice for flavor.
After some time following this preventive diet, you’ll gradually get used to the natural taste of food, and you’ll feel better. In fact, many people who adopt a low-sodium diet say they don’t want to return to their old diet and meals with added salt.