Be Sensible About Sodium

Sodium is one of the two minerals in table salt; the other mineral is chloride. While sodium helps maintain the balance of fluids in the body, too much sodium in the diet may contribute to high blood pressure and conditions worsened by high blood pressure, like heart disease and stroke.

The good news is that a few simple changes can lower the amount of sodium in your diet.

• Freshen up. Choose fresh or frozen vegetables and vegetable combos. As long as they're sauce-free, they have almost no sodium. The same holds true for meats, poultry and fish - more processing means more sodium, unless the label states otherwise.
• Kick the traditional can. When buying canned foods like vegetables, fish, or soups, look for brands that are marked "less sodium" or "no added salt." Health Valley Organic soups provide a wide variety of unique choices, with the first and only organic "no salt added" soups and a traditional line with 40% less sodium than other leading brands.
• Rinse and drain. Simply rinsing and draining canned beans - kidney, garbanzo, pinto, and others - removes a lot of their sodium without taking away flavor or texture. Try the same with canned tuna, and sprinkle with fresh lemon juice to brighten the taste.
• Don't shake it up. Season dishes with fresh or dried herb combinations. When cooking rice, pasta, or hot cereal, avoid salting the cooking water. They taste just as good without it.