6 Easy Ways to Cut Sodium

Tips for reducing salt in your diet.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I have been reducing the sodium content in my diet for over six years now. In January 2004, I was diagnosed with Lupus and ended up having kidney failure. As a result, I took on the challenge of living on an extremely low (to no) sodium...

5. Distract your palate.

Acidic flavorings like lemon or lime juice and vinegar can help bring out a food’s inherent savoriness, helping you reduce or even eliminate salt. Or, try a sprinkle of fresh grated lemon zest, chopped fresh or dried herbs, garlic or shallots; while not always a perfect replacement for salt, they can help ease the transition to lower-salt cooking by waking up other flavors. Get creative with seasoning blends, found in any spice aisle; just make sure they’re labeled “salt-free.” We like lemon pepper, poultry seasoning and salt-free herb blends like Mrs. Dash. (We don’t recommend potassium-chloride-based salt substitutes, which taste “off” to our palates.)

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