How to Cut Back on Salt

Don’t Be Salty: Sodium is one of the main drivers of high blood pressure. And it can be hard to avoid. Salt, which contains sodium, is a common ingredient in most packaged and canned foods, condiments, and restaurant dishes — often in amounts that far exceed recommendations. 

The Benefits: The body needs sodium to survive and function properly, but most of us (about 90% of Americans, in fact) get too much. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke. Reducing your sodium consumption is a smart first start that can significantly lower this risk.

How to Do It: Reducing sodium intake doesn’t have to be complicated. The American Heart association has a simple set of guidelines to follow: avoid salty packaged foods (yes, that includes potato chips), go easy on dressings and condiments, bias toward low-sodium foods, and read nutrition labels to keep tabs on your intake.