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Reduce Salt and Sodium in Your Diet

salt shaker A key to healthy eating is choosing foods lower in salt and sodium. Most Americans consume more salt than they need. The current recommendation is to consume less than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams[mg] ) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of table salt a day. The 6 grams include ALL salt and sodium consumed, including that used in cooking and at the table. For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise eating less salt and sodium, as recent research has shown that people consuming diets of 1,500 mg of sodium had even better blood pressure lowering benefits. These lower-sodium diets also can keep blood pressure from rising and help blood pressure medicines work better.

 Tips for Reducing Sodium in Your Diet
 Tips on Being a Smart Shopper
 Tips on How to Prepare Lower Salt Meals
 Read the Food Label
 What to Look for on Food Labels
 Quick Facts on Salt
 Test Your Salt and Sodium IQ
 Quiz on Finding Sodium in Your Diet
 Flavor That Food

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