The DASH diet Dietary Intzke to Stop Zodium is a well-known intervention to treat high blood pressure. National Cancer Centre Singapore. The following table provides a guide to what these terms mean table 1.

Importance of reducing sodium intake -

Nearly everyone can lower their blood pressure, even people currently on blood pressure reducing drugs, by lowering their sodium intake, reports a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham , Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Northwestern Medicine.

Results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions on Nov. The trial was an ancillary study to the UAB Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, or CARDIA , study, co-led by Lewis. Middle-aged to older individuals in their 50s to 70s were placed on a high-sodium diet 2, milligrams per day on top of their normal diet and a low-sodium diet mg total in a day , each for one week at a time.

Learn more about the study here. Overall, 72 percent of participants experienced a lowering of their systolic blood pressure on the low-sodium diet compared with their usual diet. The total daily sodium intake recommended by the AHA is to be below 1, mg and the study was designed to decrease it even lower than that.

The study is one of the largest to investigate the effect of reducing sodium in the diet on blood pressure to include people with hypertension who are already on medications.

Lewis says the rapid, safe and significant reduction in blood pressure by reducing dietary sodium intake in one week shows the potential public health impact of the results. Ask that no salt be used to prepare food, when possible. Herb and spice combinations that are salt-free are widely available and can be used to flavor foods.

Do not drink softened water. When purchasing bottled water, check the label to ensure that it does not contain sodium. Avoid products that contain sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate is another name for baking soda. In addition, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides additional benefits in lowering blood pressure. The DASH diet Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension is a well-known intervention to treat high blood pressure.

The DASH diet requires the person to eat four to five servings of fruit, four to five servings of vegetables, and two to three servings of low-fat dairy, and all foods must contain less than 25 percent total fat per serving. Foods to choose — The following are examples of foods that may be lower in sodium.

It is essential, however, to check the labels to determine the actual amount of sodium present figure 1 , as amounts can vary widely from one brand to another.

Foods to avoid — Many foods, especially those that are processed, have a high sodium content. Items that can be substituted for high-sodium foods are listed in the following table table 2. Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our web site www. Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for healthcare professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below.

Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials. The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition.

These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials. Patient education: Low-sodium diet The Basics Patient education: Chronic kidney disease The Basics Patient education: Swelling The Basics Patient education: High blood pressure in children The Basics Patient education: Diabetes and diet The Basics Patient education: Medicines for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction The Basics Patient education: Hemodialysis The Basics Patient education: Preparing for hemodialysis The Basics Patient education: Peritoneal dialysis The Basics Patient education: Dialysis and diet The Basics Patient education: High blood pressure emergencies The Basics Patient education: Arginine vasopressin disorders The Basics Patient education: When your lungs fill with fluid The Basics Patient education: Medicines for chronic kidney disease The Basics.

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

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Diet in the treatment and prevention of hypertension Salt intake and hypertension. htm , available in Spanish. The editorial staff at UpToDate would like to acknowledge Norman M Kaplan, MD, who contributed to an earlier version of this topic review.

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View Topic. Font Size Small Normal Large. Americans consume more than 3, milligrams mg of sodium per day, on average. Salt and sodium are not the same. Salt is sodium chloride which is table salt. One teaspoon of table salt contains about 2, mg of sodium.

Breads and rolls as the top source. Eggs and omelets are the tenth leading source of sodium. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Sodium Intake and Health. Minus Related Pages. Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health.

While sodium has many forms, most sodium we consume is from salt. Most Americans consume too much sodium.

Sodihm majority oxidative stress and inflammation resolution sodium in our Importance of reducing sodium intake comes from ov and restaurant food not the salt shaker as a sodikm of food processing. Even foods that may not taste salty can be major sources of intkae. The Intaks Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH eating plan is a simple, heart-healthy diet that can help prevent or lower high blood pressure. The DASH diet is low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated and total fats, and high in fruits and vegetables, fiber, potassium, and low-fat dairy products. If you follow the DASH eating plan and also make other healthy lifestyle changes, such as getting more physical activity, you will see the biggest benefits. Learn more about the DASH eating plan.

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Americans now consume on average about 3, milligrams mg of sodium each day, while federal guidelines recommend less than 2, mg per day for Wodium 14 years and older. Recommended ingake for children 13 years and younger off even lower.

Reducing sodium rsducing foods could prevent hundreds of reduing of premature Impogtance and illnesses over a decade. Strong scientific evidence supports lowering sodium intake from current levels, Importance of reducing sodium intake. Intakr sodium intake increases risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommends limiting sodium intake to 2, mg per day for people 14 years and older; and even less for those 13 years and younger.

More than million American adults have high blood pressure, and blood pressure Ikportance rises as you get older. This tendency for blood pressure to rise with age is seen mostly in western countries where sodium intakes are high.

Children and adolescents also are more likely to have increased blood pressure with higher sodium intakes. Studies suggest that the preference for sodium Importtance affected by early life consumption habits and can extend into adult years, although palates can also adjust to lower sodium in foods.

Consumers can, and should, check labels when they are available, but a few types of foods do not require the Nutrition Facts label. An example is deli meats you buy at a counter. The majority of the sodium we eat comes from processed, packaged and prepared foods, not from table salt added to food when cooking or eating.

Including restaurant foods is necessary to achieve sodium reduction goals and for people to adapt their taste buds whether they are eating at home or outside the home.

The sodium in your diet comes from a lot of different types of foods—especially mixed refucing that have many components and sauces. Our approach is to encourage reductions Importznce a variety of products—not just ones that are especially high in sodium. In addition, there are other ways companies can reformulate, or change, certain foods while still making them appealing to consumers.

Examples include adding savory herbs and spices, salt blends or other flavorings in place of sodium. Yes, some food companies are making progress already and we applaud their leadership.

But even with these efforts, the sodium content of the food supply redhcing high. Part of the problem has been the focus on making a few foods very low in sodium, instead of making most foods a little lower in sodium.

We want to give the industry common targets across a broad range of foods. We are encouraging companies to meet short-term targets in two and a jntake years note that some foods already meet the short-term targets. We expect that if the food industry reaches these initial targets more broadly, it would reduce average sodium intake to about 3, mg per day.

There are Imporyance countries working to reduce the sodium intake and 48 have set sodium target levels for one or more processed foods. It is difficult reduciny compare countries in terms of progress because sodium intake varies worldwide, and different approaches may be needed based on foods typically eaten.

But many countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, have made progress on sodium reduction with approaches similar to that being used here.

We will work with other government agencies, such as the U. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on these monitoring efforts.

The FDA also plans to actively engage with food manufacturers to learn about their sodium reduction efforts. Skip to main content Skip to FDA Search Skip to in this section menu Skip to footer links. Population Exceeding Recommended Sodium Limit Americans consume more sodium than is recommended.

Sodium on the Nutrition Facts Label Sodium Intake and Health Cut Down on Sodium health.

: Importance of reducing sodium intake

Cutting Out Even a Little Salt Can Have Big Health Benefits	Español Other Languages. Sodium Intake and Health. Minus Related Pages. Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health. While sodium has many forms, most sodium we consume is from salt. Most Americans consume too much sodium. Most sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods. How to Reduce Sodium Intake. Sodium, Potassium and Health. Health Professional Resources. Most People Eat Too Much Sodium Americans consume more than 3, milligrams mg of sodium per day, on average. Sodium is a mineral found in many foods including: Monosodium glutamate MSG. Sodium bicarbonate baking soda. Sodium nitrate a preservative. View Larger. Download Image [JPG]. Last Reviewed: June 6, Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. home Sodium Intake and Health. Get Email Updates. Doctors may recommend a low sodium diet to help manage certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and kidney or liver disease. In this article, we provide the current dietary guidelines for daily sodium intake and outline some potential health benefits of a low sodium diet. We also list some foods to eat and avoid when following a low sodium diet. The body needs a certain amount of sodium to function properly. However, too much sodium may lead to worsening high blood pressure and associated health complications. The federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise a sodium intake of less than 2, milligrams mg per day for people aged 14 years and older. This amount is roughly the equivalent of a teaspoon of salt. The American Heart Association AHA agree with this recommendation but suggest aiming for the ideal limit of 1, mg of sodium per day. According to the AHA, the average person in the United States consumes more than 3, mg of sodium each day. This amount is well above the recommended level. Sodium draws water into the bloodstream, resulting in a higher blood volume. This increased blood volume triggers a rise in blood pressure, which doctors refer to as hypertension. Reducing sodium in the diet may help a person lower their blood pressure or prevent high blood pressure from developing. A low sodium diet may be beneficial for people with certain health conditions. We have outlined some examples below. Sodium increases the amount of water in the bloodstream, thereby raising total blood volume. This increase in blood volume puts extra pressure on the circulatory system, causing high blood pressure. The kidneys help control sodium levels within the body. Poor kidney function can cause excess sodium and fluid to accumulate in the body. This fluid accumulation can lead to high blood pressure, as well as swelling of the ankles and the area under the eyes. The National Kidney Foundation NKF advise that people with kidney disease limit their sodium intake to prevent health complications. People with certain diseases of the liver may experience hypertension, along with a buildup of fluid in the abdomen known as ascites. Doctors may recommend that people with cirrhosis and certain other diseases of the liver consume a diet low in sodium to prevent or manage ascites. Due to the effects of high sodium intake on blood pressure, the World Health Organization WHO recommend that adults reduce the amount of sodium in their diet to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. However, studies investigating the benefits of a low sodium diet in preventing heart failure from developing or worsening have produced mixed results. One way to reduce dietary sodium intake is to consume mainly fresh foods, including vegetables, fruits, and animal products. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion ODPHP say that people can keep their diet low in sodium by selecting the following foods at the grocery store:. People may need to take extra care to check the labeling on food products to help them opt for brands with less sodium. It is also important to avoid using salt to season food. The ODPHP recommend replacing salt with one of these alternative food seasonings:. The NKF suggest various food and spice combinations on their website and provide recipes for several salt-free spice blends. High levels of sodium may also be present in foods that do not taste salty, such as pastries and cereal. The NKF suggest avoiding the foods below when following a low sodium diet:. Those following a low sodium diet may also want to be cautious when eating at a restaurant. People can ask about the sodium content of a particular meal before ordering. They can also ask the restaurant to prepare the dish without salt and to serve salad dressings or sauces separately. According to the FDA , people following a low sodium diet should check the nutrition facts labels on food products to find out their sodium content. The nutrition facts label typically lists the sodium content in mg per serving. A person should also check to see how many servings the package contains. Food packaging may also include other useful labels. Some examples and their associated meanings include:. Table salt, or sodium chloride, is a common source of dietary sodium. Other dietary sources of sodium include:. According to the AHA , the average person requires less than mg of sodium a day. Therefore, for most people, a diet containing 1, mg of sodium a day should not be a concern. One exception is people who may lose large amounts of sodium through sweating, such as competitive athletes and individuals who work in hot conditions. Anyone who has questions about following a low sodium diet can ask a healthcare professional for further advice. However, too much dietary sodium can lead to hypertension and associated health complications. A low sodium diet can help in the management of various health conditions, including hypertension and diseases of the kidneys and liver.
Benefits of a Low Sodium Diet | Denver Health Medical Plan	Conditions the diet Polyphenols and skin health benefit. Sodimu on Pinterest. Sodium is added to almost Importance of reducing sodium intake sdoium, packaged IImportance prepared foods. Including restaurant foods is necessary to achieve sodium reduction goals and for people to adapt their taste buds whether they are eating at home or outside the home. Sign up today! People with high blood pressure should shoot for 1, milligrams or less—about 3. By Jillian Kubala, MS, RD on December 10,
Trending Now	Other dietary sources of sodium include:. Replace high-sodium foods with high-potassium foods. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen. Try these tips when you eat out or get takeout: Ask if there are any lower-sodium dishes on the menu When you order, ask them not to add salt to your food Get dressings and sauces on the side so you can add only as much as you need Add more potassium to your diet. This information on eating less sodium was adapted from materials from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Tips for cutting down on sodium	Ask that no salt be added to your meal. Order vegetables with no salt added or fruit as a side item. Split a meal with a friend or family member. Keep takeout and fast food to an occasional treat. Choose a Heart-Healthy Diet The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH eating plan is a simple, heart-healthy diet that can help prevent or lower high blood pressure. Range of Sodium Content for Selected Foods. Page last reviewed: August 23, Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. home Sodium Intake and Health. Get Email Updates. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Stroke Heart Disease Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Million Hearts® WISEWOMAN. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Helps control diabetes Lowering your sodium intake helps you maintain normal blood pressure levels and keep blood sugar under control. Can lower the risk of stomach cancer Reduced sodium correlates with less H. pylori bacteria, a high-risk factor for stomach cancer. Foods to embrace A good rule of thumb is to eat foods in their natural state, such as fruits, veggies, nuts, eggs, legumes and whole grains. There are many other healthier ways to season your food: Fresh or dried herbs and spices paprika, dill, basil, oregano, Italian blend, etc. Chopped onions, garlic or peppers Lemon or lime juice Vinegars and oils Healthy substitutes When you have a craving, satisfy it with a low-sodium alternative: Craving chips and dip? Try veggies and hummus. Want packaged popcorn? Make air-popped popcorn with dill or chili powder. Hungry for cured meat? Snack on low-sodium deli meat wrapped in lettuce leaves. Feel like ice cream? Indulge in some yogurt with fresh fruit. Thirsty for soda? Quench your thirst with sparkling water. Medical News Today. Mayo Clinic. Facebook Email. Related Articles: Diabetes: Prevention and Taking Control. Roasted Butternut Squash and Warm Quinoa Salad. The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle in Fighting Autoimmune Disease. Healthy Guacamole. Minus Related Pages. Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health. While sodium has many forms, most sodium we consume is from salt. Most Americans consume too much sodium. Most sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods. How to Reduce Sodium Intake. Sodium, Potassium and Health. Health Professional Resources. Most People Eat Too Much Sodium Americans consume more than 3, milligrams mg of sodium per day, on average. Sodium is a mineral found in many foods including: Monosodium glutamate MSG. Sodium bicarbonate baking soda. Sodium nitrate a preservative. View Larger.