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Vitamins and Minerals: Decreasing Salt in Your Diet HF#201

Nutrition




 



These are guidelines to reduce salt (sodium chloride) from your diet:

  • Do not add salt at the table.
  • Use half the normal amount of salt in recipes and when cooking.
  • Try using a salt substitute.  If potassium is controlled in your diet, salt substitutes should not be used.
  • Use frozen, fresh, or canned foods without salt.
  • Avoid foods that contain large amounts of salt.
  • Reading food labels can also help you reduce your salt intake.

Check the ingredient label of a product for the words salt or sodium.  High sodium foods do not always taste salty because sodium may be in other forms.  Be aware of salt compounds labeled sodium nitrate, sodium citrate, or sodium saccharin.  Also, monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking powder, baking soda, soy sauce, soy isolates, and whey solids add to the salt content of a food.

 

Avoid the foods listed below which have been processed using large amounts of salt.

 

Avoid all salted or smoked meat or fish.

bacon

smoked fish

herring

Canadian bacon

luncheon meats

ham

corned beef

smoked sausage

frankfurters

sardines

bratwurst

canned meat entrees

canned tuna

 

 

 

Avoid cheeses.

Camembert

processed cheese

Gorgonzola

cheese spreads

(Velveeta®, American Cheese)

 

Roquefort

party dips

 

 

Avoid breads and rolls with salt toppings.

 

Avoid fast foods and processed foods (Unless labeled low or very low sodium)

frozen dinners

potato chips

gravy mixes

Asian foods

pretzels

sauce mixes

spaghetti sauce

salted nuts

pickles, olives, relish

     (unless home-made)

salted popcorn

salted crackers

pot pies

sauerkraut

soda crackers

packaged entrees

tomato juice

snack crackers

packaged rice mixes

canned tomatoes,

soups:  canned, frozen

packaged potatoes and

tomato sauce & paste

     or dried

     noodle mixes

bouillon cubes

 

 

Avoid seasonings with salt.

celery salt

horseradish

onion salt

lite salt

meat sauces

seasoned salt

chili sauce

meat tenderizers

soy sauce

garlic salt

monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Worcestershire sauce

lemon pepper

 

barbeque sauce

 

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.

 

 
Nutrition Clinic Room
University Station
2880 University Avenue
Madison, WI  53705
(608) 263-5012
Nutrition Clinic Room
UW Health West Clinic
451 Junction Road
Madison, WI  53717
(608) 265-7526
Nutrition Clinic Room
UW Health East Clinic
5249 East Terrace Drive
Madison, WI  53718
(608) 265-0963

 

 

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 07/24/2012

Copyright © 11/01/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#201

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