flat tommy starts with embracing alternate to salt
Increasing the amount of herbs you use in cooking
provides a double benefit. Not only will you decrease your sodium intake, but
the scientific community continues to uncover the powerful health benefits of
herbs. Recent studies show and increase weightloss, common herbs are loaded with antioxidants.
Antioxidants are critical for good health.
Reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure in people with
high blood pressure.. Reducing salt intake can also help prevent the collection
of fluid in the lower leg or abdomen. People with chronic kidney disease must
control salt intake to prevent volume overload, which increases blood pressure
and causes swelling. Low salt intake has been known to assist people who have
heart failure'.
Switching from higher sodium diet to a lower sodium diet
can modestly reduce blood pressure in people who have normal blood pressure.
When the sodium intake is lowered from 4000mg to 2000 mg per day, blood
pressure falls. This reduction may be as great over several years and can
substantially lower the risk of heart diseases.
In addition, to directly reducing blood pressure, a lower
salt intake may also enhance the effectiveness of high blood pressure
medication and other non drug treatment such as weight loss. A lower sodium
intake has also been associated with other health benefits including a reduced
risk of dying from stroke, heart enlargement and a reduced risk of kidney
stones and osteoporosis.
It may be helpful to keep a detailed food record and add
up sodium intake. Within a short period of time or less than a week, the main
sources of sodium can be identified and daily intake can be calculated.
Sources of sodium
includes packaged and processed foods and
food from restaurant. Others include frozen meals, canned food, snacks
condiments, sauces and dressings. Sodium found in processed food accounts for
about 80 percent a persons daily sodium intake in a typical western diet and
can quickly add up, even without the use of a salt shaker.
Again many add more salt to food; just one teaspoon of
table salt contains about 2300 milligram of sodium which is more than many
people need for the entire day, Most fresh foods (fresh unprocessed meat, fish
vegetable and fruits) have a low sodium content and can be substituted for
foods that are high in sodium.
