How do you keep your sodium intake down

I was woundering how all of you gals keep your sodium intake down. I eat prety clean do not have many processed things, my regular "Processed foods" are String Cheese Sticks, Cheese, cottage cheese, mircle whip, ham, and an some dark chocolate covered berries from costco, salad dressing when I have salads, and occasionally some gluten free crakers. Wehn I cook with butter I do get the unsalted butter. When I have pasta sauce it's my mom's homemade sauce she puts some salt in it but not alot and makes it with home grown tomatoes. But I still struggle keeping my sodium intake down, eggs. I would think this would not be an issue with the way I eat but I still seem to always go over on my sodium.

Replies

  • mamosh81
    mamosh81 Posts: 409 Member
    i dont eat processed meat any bread or side dishes like potatoes, rice, noodles and i cut out almost all milk products sometime a little cheese here and there but i am lactose intolerant, also never been a big snacker and what i snack i replaced with apples, oranges or squash, cucumbers my sodium is usually around 500-1000

    ohh and i dont salt anything i cook, i use garlic powder instead and if it needs some salt i salt after cooking
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    I generally don't eat many processed foods. I have small amounts of coconut milk that comes in cans, and I cook with boxed tomatoes here and there. I have sausages occasionally, and bacon, and tuna from the can. I think that's pretty much it as far as processed foods go. I cook from scratch, including certain condiments (mayonnaise, have made ketchup in the past, bbq sauce, etc.). I make my own broths, seed/nut butters, etc. If you're making your own stuff, you can decide how much salt you want to add. I do this more for reasons of controlling added sugars (that's my big concern), but I think one could better manage sodium intake that way, too.

    I'm lactose intolerant so I can't do much cheese at all, though I wish I could! I've also got a gluten sensitivity, so I avoid grains as well--no bread, pasta, etc.

    I don't eat lunch meats. I usually have dinner leftovers or some sort of big salad with protein (whatever's hanging around my fridge) at lunch time. I make my own salad dressings--often they are just vinegar/oil/herbs, but once in awhile I will make a creamy dressing with my homemade mayo.

    I do salt my food when cooking, but I use sea salt rather than table salt. It doesn't have less sodium (lots of people seem to think it does), but I end up using less salt because it's not finely ground like table salt is.

    I use regular (salted) butter as well.
  • ZiezieO
    ZiezieO Posts: 228 Member
    How low is your sodium intake goal?

    I drink a lot of water and it seems to keep me away from a lot of sodium that is is drinks.
    I don't eat ham, ever. I just don't like pig meat really I guess.
    I love pastas and rice. Chinese take out is my weakness.
    I guess I would suggest bumping up water intake and switch to a more natural salt at home whenever possible.
  • WifeofPJ
    WifeofPJ Posts: 312
    How low is your sodium intake goal?

    I drink a lot of water and it seems to keep me away from a lot of sodium that is is drinks.
    I don't eat ham, ever. I just don't like pig meat really I guess.
    I love pastas and rice. Chinese take out is my weakness
    I guess I would suggest bumping up water intake and switch to a more natural salt at home whenever possible.

    My sodim intake goal is 2500, I usually end up at 3000 sometimes less sometimes more. craving salty snacks isn't an issue. I eat very clean but I still struggle with my sodium intake because of the eggs, and cheese that I eat. But the snacks are not craving salty things it's to have good protein snacks (I'm not a fan of raw nuts). My water intake is not an issue I probably get around 150-180 oz of water a day.
  • CharRicho
    CharRicho Posts: 389 Member
    How low is your sodium intake goal?

    I drink a lot of water and it seems to keep me away from a lot of sodium that is is drinks.
    I don't eat ham, ever. I just don't like pig meat really I guess.
    I love pastas and rice. Chinese take out is my weakness
    I guess I would suggest bumping up water intake and switch to a more natural salt at home whenever possible.

    My sodim intake goal is 2500, I usually end up at 3000 sometimes less sometimes more. craving salty snacks isn't an issue. I eat very clean but I still struggle with my sodium intake because of the eggs, and cheese that I eat. But the snacks are not craving salty things it's to have good protein snacks (I'm not a fan of raw nuts). My water intake is not an issue I probably get around 150-180 oz of water a day.

    What are you eating with your eggs??!! Eggs on their own have VERY little sodium (like 50-100 mg) and shouldn't take up much of your daily sodium allowance. Eggs are generally very healthy and a great part of a low carb diet so don't cut those out, but consider what you're cooking them with/eating with them.

    Cheese is something you should try to get down anyway, because of the bad fats. Try cutting your cheese slices thinner and thinner every day so you get used to having less.
  • pland54
    pland54 Posts: 132
    Do you have high blood pressure? You can try a diuretic herbal tea to help get rid of excess sodium. Your diet sounds pretty good, so unless you're having problems directly related to excess sodium I'd say don't worry too much. I think you're doing great.
  • WifeofPJ
    WifeofPJ Posts: 312
    Do you have high blood pressure? You can try a diuretic herbal tea to help get rid of excess sodium. Your diet sounds pretty good, so unless you're having problems directly related to excess sodium I'd say don't worry too much. I think you're doing great.

    I do have high blood pressure that's why I'm trying to stay with-in the 2500g. I find on the weekends when I don't have as many snacks I don't have an issue. I know it is probably the cottage cheese, I changed my string cheese to a reduced sodium string cheese. But I'm not sure what to replace the cottage cheese with that will give me a good protein and fat. (I don't really like raw nuts I have to choke them down and I choose not to.) But I'm not having any issues my weight is steadily going down. Maybe you are right since I eat prety clean and healthy I shouldn't wory to much about it.

    I have found after starting metformin my blood presure is at it's lowest and am going to talk to the DR about possibly getting off of the Labatolol (Blood Pressure medication

    Thanks for your imput!