Your body needs sodium to help you balance fluids, according to Jackson/Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. But too much sodium can cause you to retain fluids and may be harmful to people with high blood pressure or heart disease. In such cases, your doctor may suggest you reduce your sodium intake. Some diet plans can help you manage your sodium intake. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any diet plan.
Two-Gram Sodium Diet
A 2-gram sodium diet is recommended to people with fluid retention and high blood pressure. When following the 2-gram sodium diet you are advised to stop adding salt to your food. Table salt makes up about half of your sodium intake, according to Jackson/Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. It is also suggested you read labels of prepared and processed food and only eat food items with 200 mg of sodium or less per serving. Fast food is another source of sodium and should be avoided when following the 2-gram sodium diet, says Jackson/Siegelbaum.
The DASH Diet
The DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, has been clinically shown to help people reduce their blood pressure, according to the DASH Diet Eating Plan website. The DASH diet is a low-sodium diet and recommends people with high blood pressure limit their intake of sodium to 1,500 mg a day. In addition to limiting salt, DASH also includes foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium shown to help improve your blood pressure. The diet encourages you to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. You will lower your blood pressure within 14 days of following the diet, according to the website.
American Heart Association Diet
The American Heart Association diet is a heart healthy diet low in saturated fat and sodium and high in fiber. It recommends you limit your intake of sodium to 1,500 mg a day. The diet encourages high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It also recommends you eat fatty fish, such as salmon or tuna, at least twice a week. The American Heart Association also suggests you limit your intake of processed meats to control sodium intake and sugar sweetened beverages to limit your intake of non-nutritive calories. Saturated fat is also limited to 7 percent of total calorie intake.
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