5 Simple Steps to Reduce Sodium Intake and Keep Your Heart Healthy

Reducing sodium intake is an essential part of keeping your heart healthy. World Salt Awareness Week (March 12-18) is the perfect time to take action and make small changes to your diet that can have a big impact on your health. The recommended maximum daily amount of salt for adult New Zealanders from all food sources is about 6 g, which is equivalent to 1 teaspoon per day. However, it's easy to consume more than that.

For children, the recommended amount of salt is lower and depends on their age. Currently, we consume about 1.5 teaspoons of salt a day, most of which comes from processed and manufactured foods. To reduce your sodium intake, it's important to check food labels and nutrition facts panels to find the foods with the lowest level of sodium per 100 g. Additionally, you can buy fresh, frozen or canned vegetables without added salt or sauce, and choose packaged foods labeled “low sodium”, “reduced sodium” or “no salt added” when available. By making small changes to your diet and reducing your sodium intake, you can help lower blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.

Here are five simple steps you can take to reduce your sodium intake and keep your heart healthy:1.Check food labels: When shopping for food, check the nutrition facts panel for the amount of sodium per 100 g. Choose foods with the lowest level of sodium.

2.Choose fresh or frozen vegetables:

Buy fresh, frozen or canned vegetables without added salt or sauce.

3.Choose low-sodium packaged foods:

Look for packaged foods labeled “low sodium”, “reduced sodium” or “no salt added” when available.

4.Avoid processed foods:

Processed and manufactured foods are often high in sodium, so try to avoid them as much as possible.

5.Monitor your intake:

Keep track of how much sodium you're consuming each day and try to stay within the recommended maximum daily amount. World Salt Awareness Week is a great reminder to take simple steps to reduce salt in your diet and keep your heart healthy.