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Cooking without salt

Description

Sodium is one of the main elements in table salt (NaCl or sodium chloride). It is added to many foods to enhance the flavor. Too much sodium is linked to high blood pressure.

Eating a low-salt diet is an important way to take care of your heart. Most people eat about 3,400 mg of sodium a day. This is about twice as much as the American Heart Association recommends. Most healthy people should have no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. People over 50 years old, and those who have high blood pressure, may need to limit sodium to 1,500 mg a day or less.

To get down to a healthy level, learn how to trim the excess salt from your diet.

Alternative Names

DASH diet; High blood pressure - DASH; Hypertension - DASH; Low-salt diet - DASH

Avoid Prepared Foods

Ready-to-eat foods make dinner preparation easy, but they account for 75% of the sodium in the American diet. They include:

A healthy level of sodium is 140 mg or less per serving. If you use prepared foods, limit sodium by:

Also, use small amounts of condiments like ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce. Even the low-salt versions are often high in sodium.

Bring on the Fresh Produce

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of flavor and nutrition.

Try Salt-free Cooking

Explore other flavors when you are cooking.

Read the labels on spice mixes. Some have added salt.

To add a little heat and spice, try:

Help Yourself to Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices provide a mix of flavors. If you are not sure what spices to use, do a taste test. Mix a small pinch of a spice or spice mix into a lump of low-fat cream cheese. Let it sit for an hour or more, then try it and see if you like it.

Try these flavors to liven up your meals without salt.

Herbs and spices on vegetables:

Herbs and spices on meat:

Source: Use Herbs and Spices Instead of Salt, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Adjust to Less Salt

You will notice a difference when you first start cooking without salt. Fortunately, your sense of taste will change. After a period of adjustment, most people stop missing salt and start enjoying the other flavors of food.

Salt-free Recipe

There are many great tasting low sodium recipes. Here's one you can try.

Chicken and Spanish Rice

  1. In a large skillet, sauté onions and green peppers in oil for 5 minutes on medium heat.
  2. Add tomato sauce and spices. Heat through.
  3. Add cooked rice and chicken. Heat through.

*To further reduce sodium, use one 4-oz (114 g) can of low-sodium tomato sauce and one 4-oz (114 g) can of regular tomato sauce.

Source: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH, U.S. Health and Human Services.

References

Eckel RH, Jakicic JM, Ard JD, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC guideline on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(25 Pt B):2960-2984. PMID: 24239922 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24239922/.

Mozaffarian D. Nutrition and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.

National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Use herbs and spices instead of salt. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/healthdisp/pdf/tipsheets/Use-Herbs-and-Spices-Instead-of-Salt.pdf. Updated December 2013. Accessed May 28, 2024.

Tantisattamo E, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Diet and hypertension. In: Bakris GL, Sorrentino MJ, Laffin LJ, eds. Hypertension: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 2.

US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th ed. www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Department of Health and Human Services website. Your guide to lowering your blood pressure with DASH. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/new_dash.pdf. Accessed May 28, 2024.


Review Date: 5/14/2024
Reviewed By: Stefania Manetti, RDN, CDCES, RYT200, My Vita Sana LLC - Nourish and heal through food, San Jose, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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