Salt By Stealth

Eat less salt, lower your risk of heart failure.

We know this, but are often not coached very well on how to achieve it. For example, in this research report, researchers found that patients THINK they are lowering their salt by having a few less shakes on their food at the table.

But this is NOT where the salt is coming from. In fact, about 70 percent of the sodium in the American diet comes from processed food products — like canned soups, lunch meats and fast food, not from salt added to home-cooked meals.

Some of the highest-sodium foods eaten by the study participants included hot dogs, sausage and bacon, canned soups, salad dressings, condiments, fast food, lunch meat, bread, pizza, processed entrees, prepared grits and cornbread.

The take-home message is this: a little salt on your broccoli is okay but, even with that, you will drastically lower your total intake by simply eating real food. And the safest way of all is to just make your own food in your own home. That way, you can leave the bucket o’ salt in your cupboard and out of your dinner!