Needless to say, maintaining good health does not simply rely on how many reps you can manage to perform in one set. It is also affected by your food intake. One of the primary ingredients in many foodstuffs that we need to be keen on is sodium in the form of salt. It has its own set of advantages especially in making the food more appetizing to the palate. Nonetheless, the disadvantages of sodium intake outweigh its advantages. That’s why in this article we’ll tell How to reduce sodium amount in your food.
Health is wealth. That’s why it is very important that you need to take care of your body. One resolution that most people have in mind is hitting the gym on a daily basis. However, you need not go to the gym just to be able to burn off those excess calories. There are home workouts (even for beginners) that are just right for you, whether you are working around the clock or just living the bum life.
10 Tips on How to Reduce Sodium Amount in Your Food
With these pointers in mind, here are some tips on how to reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
KEEP IT FRESH
Most of the processed foods that everybody loves are rich in sodium (e.g. bacon, ham). Sticking with fresh-cut pork or beef will be more beneficial towards a healthier lifestyle.
GLOW!
One of the basic food groups is glow which is comprised of fruits and vegetables. Make it a daily habit to eat these sets of foods. Aside from the fact that they have lesser sodium content, fruits and vegetables are also loaded with various health benefits.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LABEL
We don’t only check labels on the price tags of clothes we want to splurge on. We need to check the label on food items as well. Choose the ones that have ‘freshly frozen’ fruit and vegetable packs as these do not contain any form of seasonings.
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Labels can also be found in other packages. Check the ‘Nutrition Facts’ at the back of any food container. Most of the time, people would just neglect this part but this is very important if you want to pay attention on how much sodium you are taking in.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
As you succeeded in checking the ‘Nutrition Facts’, try to compare it with other brands. The amount of sodium may vary per brand. So, make sure that you choose the one with lesser sodium content.
SPICE, SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE
When it comes to food, we want it to taste really good for everybody to feast on. Adding spices will help enhance its taste and make it more delectable for the taste buds. In choosing spices, pick the ones with no salt content.
WINE LOVERS UNITE
Wine is not only meant for drinking. It can also be used as a salt substitute to add flavor to your meals. Believe it or not, there are actually a lot of dishes to choose from that taste good when cooked with wine.
WHAT’S GRILLIN’, GOOD-LOOKIN’?
Grilling meat can actually bring out the food’s natural flavor. With that said, you don’t have any need to add salt anymore.
IT’S O-K!
If you really can’t resist the temptation of adding salt to your dish, just simply mix it with foodstuffs that have potassium. In physiology, potassium and sodium are counter ions that complement each other’s tastes. Once present in your meal, potassium will counter the side effects of sodium preventing any drastic changes in your system.
MASTER CHEF MODE: ON
Instead of buying food off the racks, try cooking one for the table. This way, you will know what’s on your food. Plus, you have the added benefit of adding ‘cooking’ as your special skill and showing off your kitchen prowess with your loved ones.
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MAKE IT A HABIT
Love for salt is all a matter of preference. Altering it may take some time but once your taste buds have adjusted to lesser sodium intake, eating those fries that you once loved will be too salty already. So, give yourself time to adjust.
Reducing sodium in your diet can be a very tedious task for some who have grown dependent on salty food. However, it is also important that we have to be aware of its side effects. Remember to eat salty items in moderation. Then, you gradually reduce the sodium content in your diet. Eventually, you are living a salt-free life.
