LOW SODIUM DIET

This diet limits sodium chloride (table salt) and foods containing large amounts of sodium.

Guidelines for Implementation
1. Eliminate or limit table salt (sodium chloride) and other sodium-containing compounds such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrates or nitrites, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) etc.

2. Check food labels for the sodium content of prepared foods.
a. Low sodium is defined as less than 140 mg/serving. Choose most of your             foods from this category.
b. High sodium foods contain more than 400 mg/serving. Foods in this category (canned soups and sauces, frozen entrees, etc.) should be eliminated or limited
c. Reduced sodium foods contain 25% less sodium than the regular product. It may still be high in sodium.

3. Special low sodium products may be used as alternatives to high sodium items (i.e., low sodium cheeses).

4. Medications such as antacids, sedatives, cathartics, and headache remedies may contain large amounts of sodium (read the labels).

5. Salt substitutes are to be used only with the approval of a physician.

In addition to the previous guidelines, the following restrictions apply:

Avoid: Salt, pickled or smoked meat including ham, sausage, hot dogs, luncheon meat, and bacon. Also processed cheese and canned seafood.
Avoid: Sauerkraut, pickles, tomato juice, canned vegetables, and olives.
Avoid: Buttermilk, limit regular milk to 16 oz./day.
Avoid: Dry cereal high in sodium, instant cereals and instant potato products.
Avoid: Salted snacks, chips, pretzels, and nuts.

Limit: Peanut butter, ketchup, mustard, and commercial salad dressings.

High sodium seasonings that should be avoided include:

Celery salt                  Onion salt
Garlic salt                   Soy sauce
Lemon pepper           Worcestershire sauce
Meat tenderizer         Barbecue sauce

Instead, use:
Onion powder           Lemon
Garlic powder           Fresh or dried herbs and spices

Sample Menu: (1800 Calories, Approximately 1700mg Sodium)

Breakfast                                                        Dinner           
1 cup oatmeal                                               Baked filet of sole: 3 oz. fish
1/2 sliced banana                                         Baked potato
1/2 cup skim milk                                         Assorted vegetables
1 slice whole wheat toast                             3/4 cup vanilla pudding
1 tsp low sodium spread                              Italian bread
1 tsp low sodium spread
1 cup skim milk

Lunch                                                             Snack
1 pita bread with sliced turkey                    low fat yogurt with sliced fresh peaches
(3 oz. fresh cooked or low sodium)            6 unsalted crackers
Tomato slices
Fresh apple
1 tsp mayonnaise

Russian version