John Muir Health logo
  • Patients
    About MyChart
    Locating Patients
    Medicare
    New Patients
    Payment & Insurance
    Physician Open Payments Notice
    Preparing for Surgery
    Pre-Register for a Visit
    Registration & Forms
    Request a Health Record
    Security Center
    Video Visits
    Why Choose Us
  • Services
    Addiction Medicine
    Behavioral Health
    Cancer
    Cardiovascular Services
    Digestive Health
    Emergency Services
    Lab Services
    Medical Imaging
    Neurosciences
    Orthopedics
    Pediatrics
    Physical Rehabilitation
    Pregnancy & New Parent
    Primary Care
    Urgent Care
    ALL SERVICES
  • Education
    Classes, Screenings & Support Groups
    Clinical Trials
    Conditions & Treatments
    Health & Wellness
  • Health Professionals
    Careers
    Clinical Research
    Family Medicine Residency Program
    John Muir Medical Group
    Medical Staff
    Nursing
    Pharmacy Residency Program
    Resources
    Training & Education
    Video & Publication Center
  • About Us
    Annual Reports
    Awards & Recognition
    Board of Directors
    Community Commitment
    Employers, Brokers, & Health Plans
    Executive Team
    Make a Gift
    Mission & Vision
    Partnerships
    Media Center
MyChart Login
  • Find a location
  • Find a doctor
  • Pay a bill
  • Find a job
✕

Latest information on COVID-19 >

Shake the Salt Habit

Americans eat about 3,600 mg of sodium a day on average—far more than recommended

  1. Home
  2. Health Education
  3. Health & Wellness
  4. Nutrition & Diet
  5. Shake the Salt Habit
Nutrition & Diet
  • Chocolate as Health Food
  • Clean Routine for Fruits and Veggies
  • Curb Emotional Eating
  • Dynamic D
  • Eat Like a Cardiologist
  • Gluten-Free Diets
  • Pack This, Not That
  • Reading Food Labels
  • Shake the Salt Habit
  • The Skinny on Fat – Healthy vs. Unhealthy
  • Tips for Eating Healthy
  • Weight Loss
  • Whole Grains and Fiber
  • Win the Battle of the Bulge
  • Winter Weight Loss

Did you know that the American Heart Association has lowered its recommended daily sodium intake from 2,000 mg to 1,500 mg?

It’s because too many of us overuse salt and suffer consequences; 70 million Americans have hypertension.

“Sodium attracts and holds water, and too much of it causes your blood volume to increase, which makes your heart work harder,” says Dr. Matthew DeVane, John Muir Health’s wellness co-director. Depending on your sensitivity, extra sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and congestive heart failure. To break the cycle, try these sodium-reducing strategies:

  • Eat fewer processed foods and more fresh ones. About 77 percent of the sodium in the average U.S. diet comes from processed and prepared foods, experts say. If you do buy processed foods, choose low-sodium products and rinse canned foods to remove some of the sodium.
  • When you can, nix salt in recipes. Forgoing salt may affect baked goods, but try skipping it in other dishes.
  • Cut down on sodium-heavy condiments (soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, some salad dressings).
  • Opt for herbs, spices and other flavorings to enhance taste.
  • Be smart about salt substitutes. To achieve that familiar salty flavor, you may use too much of them.
Services
  • Cardiovascular Services
  • Nutrition
Health Articles
  • Children's Health
  • General Health & Wellness
  • Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Websites
  • American Heart Association
Hi! I'm here to help answer your questions.
Chat
ABOUT
About Us
Board of Directors
Executive Team
Awards & Recognition
Partnerships
Community Commitment
Employers, Brokers & Health Plans
NEWS & PRESS
Media Center
Annual Reports
GET INVOLVED
Careers
Volunteer
Make a Gift
CONTACT
Email Us
PRIVACY
Patient Privacy
Website Privacy
Terms of Use
Security Center
Follow Us

© John Muir Health All rights reserved.

John Muir Health is accredited by The Joint Commission. 

We use cookies to measure website traffic and personalize content for a better browsing experience. By using this website, you consent to our cookies. For more details, see our Website Privacy Policy.