A low-sodium diet may reduce your risk for high blood pressure, or it may lower your blood pressure if you already have hypertension. If you have certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease, a low-protein diet can delay the onset of health complications. Many common foods, such as meat, cheese and bread, are high in protein or sodium, but there are plenty of foods that you can consume to follow a low-sodium, low-protein diet.
Fruit
Fruit is low in protein and sodium. Apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pears and melons are examples of fruits that have about 0 to 1 g of protein per serving, and almost no sodium. Fruit provides dietary fiber, and many types of fruit are beneficial for your blood pressure not only because of their low sodium content, but also because of their potassium. If you eat canned or frozen fruit, read the package to make sure that there is no added salt.
Fats
Pure fats, such as oil and butter, do not contain carbohydrates, fat or sodium. Using unsaturated fats, such as from most oils, instead of saturated fats, such as those found in butter, may lower your cholesterol levels, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Avocados are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and they are low in protein and nearly sodium-free. Oil-based salad dressings, olives and salted butter are higher in sodium.
Grains
Most grains are naturally high in carbohydrates and low in fat, protein and sodium. For example, each cup of cooked barley or white rice provides about 44 g carbohydrates and 4 g protein, with less than 1 g fat and almost no sodium. Whole grains are slightly higher in protein, with about 7 g protein in 1 cup cooked whole-wheat pasta, but they are naturally higher in heart-healthy dietary fiber. Most breads and many breakfast cereals are high in sodium, so read the nutrition labels before you buy them.
Sugary Foods
Some sugary foods are low in protein because most of their calories come from added sugars, which are carbohydrates. Syrups, jams, soft drinks and many kinds of hard or chewy candies are almost pure sugar and have no protein and very little sodium. These choices are not healthy because they are sources empty calories, which do not provide essential nutrients. Snack cakes, cookies, pies and pastries may be low in protein, but they are high-calorie and high-sugar can have unhealthy fats and sodium from salt as a preservative or flavor.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; January 2010
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cereal Grains and Pasta
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Fruits and Fruit Juices
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Vegetables and Vegetable Products
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Fats and Oils
Member Comments