Cutting Sodium in the Diet

1
Cutting Sodium in the Diet

• The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
  Service

2
What Excess Sodium Intake Can Do

• Elevate Blood Pressure
• Increase Calcium Excretion
• Increase Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke and Kidney
  Disease

3
Regular Blood Pressure Checks Are Important

• Blood pressures over 140/80
• need medication and lifestyle changes

• Blood pressure over 120/80
• need lifestyle changes

4
Lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure

• Weight loss
• Aerobic exercise
• Cut sodium
• Limit alcohol

• Increase calcium and potassium intake through
  dairy foods and fruits and vegetables

5
Ways to Significantly Cut Sodium Intake

• Eat out less
• Eat more fresh food or food processed without salt

6
Never stop or change blood pressure medicine
without checking with your doctor
7
The taste for salt is learned

• Cut salt gradually
• leave out of cooking water
• reduce or cut down in bread recipes
• Use spices and herbs
• try commercial spice and herb shakers

• Ask how food is prepared at restaurants
• Read labels
• most food should be less than 10 of the Daily
  Value
• Goal less than 2400 milligrams per day

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Take Away Message

• Taste for salt is learned
• Cut salt down gradually
• Have regular blood pressure checks
• Sodium is only one aspect of blood pressure
  control