The fuss over the federal dietary guidelines released last month tended to overlook one key thing: salt. Americans need to cut down on their sodium.
The recommendation is that people should eat less than 2,300 milligrams each day. That’s not that much. It’s about a teaspoon a day. Only about 10 percent of Americans actually adhere to that advice.
But just trying to get down to that level can work wonders for lowering your blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. The main problem is the amount of sodium found in packaged foods.
Here are a few recommendations from clinic doctors:
- Try packing a lunch or meal more often instead of grabbing on the go.
- Limit yourself to one to two slices of pizza. Mix in a salad to make it a more rounded meal.
- Prepare pasta with fresh ingredients instead of canned sauce.
Read more suggestions here.
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