Our physicians may recommend that patients with Congestive Heart Failure or Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) consume no more than 2000 milligrams of sodium per day.
2000 milligrams (mg) is about 1 teaspoon of salt (sodium chloride)
What are the common sources of sodium?
When you must watch how much sodium (salt) you eat, you must be aware of both natural sodium content and added sodium content. Ordinary table salt is sodium chloride - 40 percent sodium by weight. When you buy prepared and packaged foods, read the labels and look for the different sodium compounds that are added to foods. Watch for the words "soda" (soda refers to sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda) and "sodium" and the symbol "Na" on labels. These are products that contain sodium compounds.
Some drugs contain large amounts of sodium. Make it a practice to read carefully the labels on all over-the-counter drugs. Look at the ingredient list and warning statement to see if sodium is in the product. A statement of sodium content must appear on labels of antacids containing 5 mg or more per dosage unit (tablet, teaspoon, etc.) Some companies are now producing low-sodium over-the-counter products. If in doubt, ask your physician or pharmacist if the drug is appropriate for your use.
Most spices naturally contain sodium in very small amounts.
How can I reduce the sodium in my diet?
Learn to use spices and herbs to enhance the taste of your food.