Anyone on a low sodium diet? (Heart/blood pressure)

Hey I have recently reduced my sodium levels to 1500g a day. I don't know if that's low enough but I would love ideas on low sodium foods so I can continue keeping sodium down I currently have hypertension.

Easiest way to avoid sodium is to stay away from processed food and the salt shaker.
Cook for yourself to monitor how much salt you put in your food.

Im on meds for high blood pressure but keeping your sodium low is important for everyone's overall health and also in losing weight. So im always reading labels and keeping my intake as low as i can

indeed *S*
it is one of my main motivators for getting healthy.

i maintain a low sodium meal plan .. 1500mg sodium per day or less.
i have found it really has made an amazing difference... and while i am still in BP meds, my blood pressure is now averaging 117/75 (all last year, on same meds, it was at 130/80)

my food diary is public if you would like to have a look *S*

stay away from processed and restaurant foods as much as possible. Especially things like canned soups, jarred salsa (as opposed to fresh) and deli meats, hot dogs, bottled salad dressing etc... the salt content in such things is horrendous!

feel free to send me a friend request if you like *S*

I'm on BP meds and have been for most of my life due to a kidney problem, so I mainly have cooked meals with NO salt.
And if I do end up eating a meal that is high in sodium, I up my water intake.

I don't have any medical problems (other than being obese) but I have cut my sodium down to about 500 mg a day (I try to hit 500 stop once I hit that mark).

I use the TOPS manual and it says that the recommended amout is 500 mg a day.

Regardless of your sodium goal, I wanted to share a neat method that I figured out. When shopping I read the label and I don't buy food unless the sodium is about equal to or less than the calories.

I figured this out becuase my caloric goal is 1900 but I'm allowed 2500 in sodium So, when shopping, if I look at the sodium and it's about the same or less than the calories then I know when I consume it then I won't go over my sodium either. It really simplified things for me.

I wish you the best.

Eva

Your calorie goal is 1900 but most days you barely break 700...I've even saw some below 500. I'm assuming you aren't logging everything you are eating. I wanted to see how you were keeping your sodium under 500 mg and still making your calorie goal unless you eat veggies & fruit all the time.

I don't have any medical problems (other than being obese) but I have cut my sodium down to about 500 mg a day (I try to hit 500 stop once I hit that mark).

I use the TOPS manual and it says that the recommended amout is 500 mg a day.

Regardless of your sodium goal, I wanted to share a neat method that I figured out. When shopping I read the label and I don't buy food unless the sodium is about equal to or less than the calories.

I figured this out becuase my caloric goal is 1900 but I'm allowed 2500 in sodium So, when shopping, if I look at the sodium and it's about the same or less than the calories then I know when I consume it then I won't go over my sodium either. It really simplified things for me.

I wish you the best.

Eva

according to my Dr the MINIMUM a person needs per day is 500mg just for normal brain and chemical functioning in the body... even someone with high blood pressure is recommended to maintain a maximum of 1500 - 1800 per day, though certainly they can go lower, but not recommended at all to go below 500. one of the first things my Dr checked on with me when i told him i was reducing sodium was that i was not going below 500 on any days.

i am surprised tops is advocating lower.

hope the info helps *S*

I don't do it because of blood pressure or anything, but I try and keep my sodium under 1500mg a day. I eat pretty clean (I avoid processed foods most of the time). I never add salt to anything that I cook (I uses spices like Mrs. Dash with no sodium). When I grocery shop I try and stick with things from the outside aisles - fresh fruits & veggies, dairy, meats, eggs. If I buy something canned (black beans are usually the only canned food I get) I make sure that it is no sodium added, I eat low sodium chips if I eat chips, I avoid lunch meats they have TONS of sodium - for sandwiches I bake my own chicken ahead of time and cut it into thin slices. And low fat/no fat versions of things like cheeses usually have a lot more sodium than the regular versions so I use full fat (and still keep my fat under or at 20%). Hope those ideas help

You've already gotten tons of good advice. Basically don't pick up the salt shaker and stay away from processed foods. And read labels. It's shocking how much sodium is in everything we eat. Things I never suspected like my carton of eggwhites, bread, italian seasoning I used for salad dressing. It's crazy! I lowered mine to 1500 mg also and it's not to hard to manage that once you educate yourself with what's in the food you are eating. One more thing, I try not to eat out as much. Restaurant food has tons of sodium.