Infographic: Great Tips to Lower Your Salt Intake

March 8 – 14 is World Salt Awareness Week. Each year, this global event calls attention to the negative health impacts of consuming too much sodium. Recent studies show that even if we eat an otherwise very healthy diet, too much salt raises our risk of hypertension, kidney disease and many other health problems. Most of us consume too much salt because we have a taste for it! But experts say we can retrain our taste buds to crave substantially less dietary sodium. Check out these ways to do just that.

Great Tips to Lower Your Salt Intake

Don’t salt your food.

• Take the shaker off the table.
• Don’t add salt while cooking.
• Substitute herbs and spices.

Be a salt-smart shopper.

• Read food labels.
• Look for low-sodium options.
• Buy fresh, unprocessed foods.

Low-salt dining

• Ask for nutrition information.
• Choose low-sodium entrées and sides.
• Avoid salty condiments.

Beware of hidden salt in…

• Breads
• Breakfast cereals
• Cold cuts
• Meat and poultry
• Canned vegetables
• Savory snacks
• Soups
• Prepared foods
• Cheeses
• Frozen meals

Retrain your taste buds.

Experts say it takes about six weeks to adjust to less salt—but once you do, your food will taste much better!