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Sodium-controlled diets are used to reduce blood pressure in hypertension and to promote the loss of excess fluids in edema due to cardiovascular or renal disease and in ascites due to hepatic disease. Sodium-controlled diets may also enhance the action of some medications.
DESCRIPTION - 2.0-2.5 grams Sodium (86-109 mEq Na)
This level of sodium is used for low salt, low sodium, salt-free, and no salt diet recommendations. Foods high in sodium content are omitted. One-fourth teaspoon of salt is allowed in the preparation of food or may be used at the table. Since sodium is widely distributed in foods, portions and number of servings are restricted according to the sodium content.
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BASIC INFORMATION
Salt substitutes should be approved by the health care provider. Salt-free herbs and spices may be used freely. Carefully reading labels is important as some salt-replacement seasonings contain sodium chloride. "Light" salts which are a mixture of potassium chloride and sodium chloride are also limited on sodium-controlled diets.
Approximately 75 percent of the sodium Americans consume is added to foods during processing. The following list will help you interpret sodium information on food labels:
- Sodium Free - 5 mg or less of sodium per serving.
- Very Low Sodium - 35 mg or less of sodium per serving.
- Low Sodium - 140 mg or less of sodium per serving.
- Reduced Sodium - 75 percent less sodium than the original version of the product.
- No Added Salt or Unsalted - No salt is added during processing (but this does not guarantee the food product is naturally low in sodium).
WATER SUPPLY
Water supplies vary in natural sodium content. For the sodium content in your water supply, call your city's Water Department. Water softeners may add large amounts of sodium to the water. The sodium content of softened water ranges between 7 and 220 mg per quart. The company that installed your softener can tell you how much sodium is in your system. Distilled drinking water may be used for cooking and drinking when water supplies contain more than 120 mg sodium per liter and the diet is below 2.5 grams. If you use a quality bottled water for cooking and drinking, find out if sodium has been added and the sodium content of the water before you use it.
RECOMMENDED INTAKE
The estimated average intake of sodium in the American diet ranges from 4 to 5.8 grams per day. The American Heart Association recommends that sodium intake should not exceed 3 grams per day. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends a maximum of 3.3 grams of sodium for healthy adults.
HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)
Treatment for hypertension is not limited to taking medicines and the control of sodium intake. Lifestyle and dietary treatments also play a role:
- Cigarette smoking cessation.
- Weight reduction (if overweight).
- Excessive alcohol intake reduction.
- Stress reduction.
- Increased aerobic exercise.
- Generous intakes of potassium and calcium.
- Correction of magnesium deficiency.
While the medical management of high blood pressure has greatly improved, not all clients are benefited by and/or can tolerate anti-hypertensive drugs. Changing lifestyle habits or diet will often result in a reduction in drug requirements and thereby decrease costs and adverse reactions.
Approximately 10 percent of the population has elevated blood pressure that is markedly affected by salt. Scientific debate continues about recommendations for everyone to cut back on the salt. There is still a great deal to be learned about how salt impacts on blood pressure. There is no simple inexpensive test to learn who is salt sensitive. Most experts believe it would be prudent to limit sodium intake. It is especially important for many elderly Americans, and those already afflicted with hypertension. Native Americans, especially those who develop the nephropathy of diabetes mellitus, are also at particular risk of hypertension.
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
SODIUM-CONTROLLED DIET FOOD LIST
FOOD GROUP
(& RECOMMENDED SERVING)FOODS ALLOWED FOODS TO AVOID Milk & Dairy Products
(1-4 Servings/day)Any milk - white, low-fat, skim, chocolate and cocoa; yogurt; eggnog, ice cream, sherbet, natural cheese (limit 1 ounce per day). Substitute for 8 ounces milk: 4 ounces evaporated milk, 4 ounces condensed milk, or 1/3 cup dry milk powder. Buttermilk, malted milk. Meat & Meat Substitutes
(6 ounces per day)Fresh or fresh frozen beef, lamb, pork, veal and game; chicken, turkey, Cornish hen or other poultry; any fresh-water or fresh-frozen unbreaded fish and shell fish; low-sodium canned tuna or salmon; low-sodium peanut butter; eggs, dried beans and peas. Any meat, fish or poultry that is smoked, cured, salted or canned such as bacon, dried beef, corned beef, cold cuts, ham, turkey ham, hot dogs, sausages, sardines, anchovies, pickled herring or pickled meats, pickled eggs. Breads & Grains
(6 or more servings/day)Enriched white, wheat, rye and pumpernickel bread; hard rolls, bagels, English muffins, cooked cereal without salt; dry low-sodium cereals; unsalted crackers and bread sticks; corn or flour tortillas; biscuits, muffins, cornbread, pancakes, and waffles all made with low-sodium baking powder; low-sodium or homemade bread crumbs; rice, noodles, barley, spaghetti, macaroni and other pastas; homemade bread stuffing. Breads and rolls with salted tops; quick breads; instant hot cereals; dry cereals with added salt; crackers with salted tops; pancakes, waffles, muffins, biscuits, and cornbread with salt, baking powder, self-rising flour or instant mixes; regular bread crumbs or cracker crumbs; instant rice and pasta mixes; commercial stuffing; commercial casserole mixes. Vegetables
(3 or more servings/day)Fresh, frozen and low-sodium canned vegetables; regular canned, drained vegetables (limit 1/2 cup serving per day); low-sodium vegetable juice; regular vegetable juice (limit 1/2 cup per day); white or sweet potatoes; salt-free potato chips. Regular canned vegetables (over 1/2 cup per day); vegetable juices; sauerkraut; pickled vegetables and others prepared in brine; potato casserole mixes; potato chips; frozen vegetables in sauce. Fruits
(3-4 or more servings per day)All fruits and juices. None except salted prunes (saladitos) Desserts & Sweets Any sweets like sugar, honey, jam, jelly, syrup, marmalade, hard candy; limit regular baked products (cake, pie, cookies) to 1 serving per day. None. Beverages Coffee, tea, soft drinks, Postum, alcoholic beverages (with health care provider's approval) Commercially softened water as beverage or in food preparation. Miscellaneous Limit added salt to 1/4 teaspoon per day, may be used in cooking or at the table; limit to 3 teaspoons salted butter or margarine per day; salt-free butter or margarine; vegetable oils, shortening, and mayonnaise; salt-free salad dressings; salt substitute (with health care provider's approval); pepper, herbs and spices; flavorings; vinegar and lemon or lime juice; salt-free seasonings; low-sodium condiments; catsup, chili sauce, mustard, and pickles; fresh-ground horseradish; Tabasco sauce; homemade or salt-free soups; low-sodium baking powder; unsalted snacks; nuts, seeds, pretzels and popcorn. Added salt in excess of 1/4 teaspoon per day; light-salt; garlic salt; celery salt; onion salt; and seasoned salt; sea salt; rock salt; and kosher salt; seasonings containing salt and sodium compounds; monosodium glutamate (MSG, Accent); regular catsup, chili sauce, mustard, pickles, relishes, olives and horseradish; Kitchen Bouquet, gravy and sauce mixes; barbecue sauce, soy and teriyaki sauce; Worcestershire and steak sauce; salted snack foods; nuts, seeds, pretzels and popcorn; commercially made prepared convenience foods; regular canned or dried soups.
SODIUM-CONTROLLED DIET - Sample Menu
SUGGESTED MEAL PLAN SUGGESTED FOODS & BEVERAGES BREAKFAST
Fruit Juice
Cereal
Meat / Meat Substitute
Bread / Margarine
Milk / Beverage
SUGGESTED BREAKFAST
1/2 Grapefruit
1 ounce Cornflakes
1 Egg (optional)
2 slices Whole Wheat Toast w/ 1 teaspoon Margarine
1 cup 2% Milk* / Coffee or Tea
DINNER - NOON OR EVENING MEAL
Meat or Meat Substitute
Potato or Potato Substitute
Vegetable, Salad or Soup
Bread / Margarine
Dessert
Beverage
SUGGESTED LUNCH/DINNER
3 ounces Salt-Free Hamburger Patty
Salt-Free Oven Fries
Tomato Slices & 1/4 cup Lettuce
1 cup Salt-Free Vegetable Beef Soup
Hamburger Bun
2 Oatmeal Raisin Cookies,
1/2 cup Fresh Fruit
Coffee or Tea
SUPPER - EVENING OR NOON MEAL
Soup or Juice
Meat / Meat Substitute
Potato / Potato Substitute
Vegetable and/or Salad
Bread / Margarine
Dessert
Beverage
SUGGESTED SUPPER/DINNER
1/2 cup Salt-Free Tomato Juice
3 ounces Salt-Free Herbed Baked Chicken
1/2 cup Salt-Free Brown Rice
1/2 cup Carrot-Raisin Salad / 1 teaspoon Dressing
1 slice Whole Wheat Bread / 1 teaspoon Margarine*
4 ounce Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
1 cup 2% Milk*/ Coffee or Tea
SNACK EVENING SNACK
1/2 cup Apple Juice
2 Squares Graham Cracker
1/2 cup 2% Milk*
* To reduce fat in your diet, omit margarine and use 1% or skim milk.
NUTRIENT ANALYSIS
Calories Protein Carbohydrate Fat Cholesterol Dietary Fiber Vitamin A Vitamin C Niacin Riboflavin Thiamin Folate Calcium Phosphorus Zinc Iron Sodium Potassium 2344 Kcal 108 gm 330 gm 70 gm 201 mg 29 gm 1812 IU 248 mg 32 mg 2.6 mg 1.7 mg 239 mcg 1257 mg 1702 mg 14 mg 15 mg 2383 mg 3675 mg
NOTE: Bulk herbs are available through Mountain Rose Herbs and Nutritional Supplements are available through Herbal Remedies. To find supplements listed and not listed above, click on the links below:
RELATED LINKS
MoonDragon's Nutrition Information: Diet Index
MoonDragon's Nutrition Therapy: Preparing Produce for Juicing
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Nutrition Basics - Nutritional Supplements Guide
MoonDragon's Nutrition Index: Guidelines, Food Chart, Diets & Therapy
MoonDragon's Nutritional Therapy Index
MoonDragon's Nutritional Analysis Index
MoonDragon's Nutritional Diet Index
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness Therapy: Therapeutic Liquids Index
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HELPFUL PRODUCTS & FURTHER EDUCATION
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 2nd Edition
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 4th Edition
Prescription for Herbal Healing: The A-To-Z Reference To Common Disorders
-- by Phyllis A. Balch
The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
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