1. Limit the amount of potato chips and other salty snacks that you eat.
   
   
2. Try salt-free seasonings.
   
   
3. Try using herbs, spices, and other options to salt.
   
   
4. Read labels, and look for salt in unexpected places. (Hint: tomato and vegetable-juice cocktails often have a lot of salt.)
   
   
5. Try reduced-sodium and salt-free products.
   
   
6. Prepare foods with half the amount of salt recommended in the recipe. Or consider leaving out all of the salt in a recipe and letting people add their own. They will probably use only a fraction of the amount called for in the recipe.
   
   
7. When eating at a restaurant, ask whether a recipe or serving can be made with less salt or no salt at all.
   
   
8. Try a salt substitute. Some are made to help lower blood pressure while giving you important nutrients.

See on other sites:

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/prevent/sodium/sodium.htm
Reduce Salt and Sodium in Your Diet

Updated August 2009