This article will tell you about 5 Ways to Lower Sodium in Your Diet to Change Your Life. Sodium is a nutrient that your body needs to survive, and it comes from the food you consume. Sodium not only aids in maintaining the body’s fluid equilibrium, but it also aids nerve and muscle activity. Based on the amounts, the human body determines the amount of sodium it absorbs. When the body’s sodium levels are too high, one becomes thirsty and drinks water. In addition, the kidneys accelerate the process of excreting extra salt from the bloodstream. Maintaining a balanced sodium level should be a part of every healthy food diet or weight reduction program.
What is the difference between sodium and salt?
Sodium is a part of traditional table salt, which we eat. Salt is a chemical compound that contains 40% sodium and 60% chloride and is by far the largest source of sodium in the diet. Different salt flavours are available, but the salt’s composition remains the same. 2300 milligrammes of sodium are contained in one teaspoon of salt. It is, however, naturally present in a variety of foods, albeit in far smaller quantities than salt-added foods. Processed and frozen foods are also primarily to blame for the elevated salt levels of our diet.
How much sodium does a person require?
The American Heart Association suggests a daily sodium intake of no more than 2300 milligrammes (1 teaspoon of salt). According to them, the optimal cap is no more than 1500 milligrammes a day. The majority of us consume more calories than is recommended. A balanced and safe eating diet includes keeping sodium intake below prescribed limits.
Why does sodium need to be restricted?
When the body has more salt than it has, the kidneys filter it out by producing more urine. Excess sodium builds up in the fluid between the cells as the kidneys are unable to filter it out. Sodium draws in excess water, increasing the fluid and blood flow. The heart needs to work harder as the blood flow increases, putting pressure on the blood vessels. This will stiffen blood vessels over time, resulting in hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. High blood pressure will also damage the kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure.
Today, hypertension has evolved into a lifestyle disorder. Hypertension affects one in every three adult Indians today. Furthermore, it is possible for children to inherit it. Hypertension is exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle and little to no physical exercise, as well as poor dietary habits. Most individuals today are unaware that they have hypertension (blood pressure that is consistently 130/80 mm Hg).
How do I cut back on sodium?
To watch your sodium intake here are a few tips to follow:
- Limit the intake to raw and prepared foods: Canned, processed, and frozen foods are rich in sodium. Sauces, pickles, mayonnaise, ready-to-eat soups, frozen peas, powdered cheese, and breads are all high in sodium and should be avoided. Nuts and seeds should be purchased unsalted. Examine the food lists of the products you’re considering purchasing to see if they have a reduced sodium level per serving Sodium free, light sodium, minimal sodium, or decreased sodium on a food label means the following: A salt-free meal should have less than 5 milligrammes sodium per serving; light sodium means 50% less sodium than normal sodium; decreased sodium means 25% less sodium than regular sodium. As a result, make it a priority to read the dietary labels while buying food to prevent the negative effects of excessive sodium intake.
- Cooking: To improve the flavour of the meal, use onions, garlic, lemon juice, herbs, spices, and vinegar instead of extra salt when baking or frying it. When making rice, rotis, parathas, pasta, and other dishes, use as little salt as possible. Cooking methods such as grilling, sautéing, and roasting carry out the natural taste of the meal, reducing the need for salt. Potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, onions, oranges, potatoes and sweet potatoes, and white beans, can help to decrease sodium’s influence while also lowering blood pressure.
- Be mindful of what you order at restaurants: In restaurants, inquire if the dishes you’re ordering can be prepared with the least amount of salt possible. Since salad dressings are high in sodium, request a salad with the dressing on the side. Soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, and other condiments can be avoided. Do not season the dish with additional salt. Reduce the amount of cheese, pepperoni, or barbeque sauce on your pizza. Instead of creamy cheese, bacon, or ham, try spaghetti with red sauce and vegetables. Stop cheese, bacon, ham, mayonnaise, and other fillings in sandwiches. Fillings made of vegetables and avocado is ideal. Chinese meals can be avoided because they are high in sodium.
- Focus on fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and can be consumed in large quantities. Fruits and vegetables that are dried or frozen should be avoided. Look for a no-salt-added or reduced-salt version of the canned variety when purchasing.
- Make the most of your sodium allowance: Instead of splurging on salty chips and highly refined foods, use minimal quantities of salt to improve the taste of whole grains, legumes, and other nutritious ingredients.
It takes a while to get used to needing more salt in your diet. It takes a few weeks to get used to consuming foods that have less salt. Once your taste buds have been trained to choose low-salt meals, you can find fast food and packaged foods to be salty. The above suggestions may assist in lowering sodium intake and preventing harmful outcomes. Strong salt consumption not only causes heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney disease, but it also raises the risk of stomach cancer. High salt consumption may promote the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that causes inflammation and ulcers in the stomach, eventually leading to stomach cancer.
Change Your Diet to Change Your Life – MediUpdates
It can be tough to strike a balance between your diet and your busy working life. You don’t have much patience for nutrition and food because you spend the most of your time at work. Although, when good health is essential for survival, how can you find time to pay attention to your diet?
No, you don’t have to, at least not much, but there are a few options to change your diet. There are minor adjustments that require absolutely no time to implement. Here are three simple but effective dietary changes you can make:
Avoid Cooked Breakfasts
The body is already in cleansing mode first thing in the morning. As a result, it’s important to skip hot, fried breakfasts first thing in the morning, as this goes against the body’s normal desires. Eat small breakfasts first thing in the morning, such as fruit, to fill your stomach and help you eat less.
Alternatively, porridge with flaxseeds or pumpkin seeds is a good option. Both of these seeds are high in omega-3, which is beneficial for the joints and can help combat stress and brain diseases including Alzheimer’s and Dementia (another type of omega-3 is fish). So skip the fried breakfasts in the morning and go with something lighter on your stomach.
Reduce your portion sizes
When your mind is preoccupied, you seem to lose track of what you eat and how much you feed. You’re preoccupied with job deadlines, interviews, and meetings, so you don’t keep track of how much you’re fed. You can effectively correct this by merely growing the scale of your portions. You won’t overeat if you limit your food consumption, because you’ll be eating just what your body needs.
One of the most common sources of obesity, acidity, high cholesterol, and diabetes is overeating. You will drastically decrease the chances of developing one or more of these disorders by consuming smaller servings. Along with that your portion sizes, try eating more slowly to better know when you’re finished and to savor the flavor of your meal.
Drink more water
Although caffeine can keep you awake and alert in the short term, the additional sugar dose you get from it is not. Coffee is an artificial stimulant, so avoid drinking if you can. If you simply must have sugar, try to avoid it or reduce the volume. Additionally, have a water bottle with you and take occasional sips from it to maximise the amount of water you drink during the day. Throughout the day, the water will keep you hydrated and refreshed, reducing the need for caffeine and other stimulants.
You can enjoy a much healthier and more nutritious lifestyle by making these minor yet easy dietary changes. Contrary to common opinion, maintaining a balanced lifestyle does not necessitate major lifestyle changes. Small changes, such as the ones mentioned in this essay, may have a significant impact on your health and quality of life. The goal is to stay with them, resist temptation, and maintain consistency.
[…] 5 Ways to Lower Sodium in Your Diet to Change Your Life […]
Comments are closed.