Download low sodium diet

SODIUM
What is Sodium?
Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is found in many canned, packaged, and “fast” foods. It is also
found in many condiments, seasonings, and meats.
Why is Sodium Important for people with CKD?
Eating less sodium helps lower blood pressure and may slow down CKD. Your blood pressure
goal should be below 130/80.
One of the kidneys’ important jobs is to filter sodium out of the body and into the urine. Damaged
kidneys cannot filter as well as healthy kidneys can. This can cause sodium to stay in your body and
make your blood pressure go up and can also cause swollen ankles, puffiness, shortness of breath,
and/or fluid around your heart and lungs.
How Much Sodium Should I Eat Everyday?
Your diet should contain less than 1,150 milligrams of sodium each day, or the amount of sodium
in one teaspoon of salt. Much of the sodium you eat does not come from a salt shaker. Sodium is
added to the prepared foods you buy at the supermarket or eat at restaurants.
How Do I Lower the Sodium in My Diet?
 Buy fresh foods more often.
 Cook foods from scratch, instead of prepared foods, “fast” foods, frozen dinners, and
canned foods that are higher in sodium.
 Use spices, herbs, and sodium-free seasonings in place of salt. Check with your healthcare
provider about using salt substitutes.
 Rinse canned vegetables, beans, meats, and fish with water to remove excess sodium.
Always read the Nutrition Facts label to
compare foods. Choose foods with the lowest
Percent Daily Value (%DV) for sodium. The
%DV lets you see if a food is high or low in
sodium. 5% or less is low and 20% or more is
high.
 Check the label on fresh meats and
poultry. Sodium additives can be used
to make meat last longer.
 Look for foods labeled: sodium free,
salt free, very low sodium, low sodium,
reduced or less sodium, light in sodium,
no salt added, unsalted and lightly
salted.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/3 cup (29 g)
Servings Per Container About 3
Amount Per Serving
Calories from
Fat 45
Calories 140
* % Daily Value
Total Fat 5g
8%
Saturated Fat 4g
20%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 210mg
9%
Protein 2g
Total Carbohydrate 20g
7%
Dietary Fiber 0g
0%
Sugars 11g
There may be
more than one
serving in the
package, so be
sure to check
serving sizes.
This
number
tells you
the %DV for
sodium in
one serving
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Iron 0%
Calcium 0%
Percent Daily Values are based
on a 2,000 calorie diet
Foods High in Sodium
Limit the
amount of
Salt and salt
seasonings
Food to limit because of their high
sodium content
Table salt, Seasoning salt, Garlic salt,
Onion salt, Celery salt, Lemon Pepper,
Lite salt, Meat tenderizer, Bouillon cubes,
Flavor enhancers
Barbecue sauce, Steak sauce, Soy sauce,
Salty foods
Teryaki sauce, Oyster sauce
SALTED SNACKS such as: Crackers,
Potato chips, Corn chips, Pretzels, Tortilla
Chips, Nuts, Popcorn, Sunflower seeds
Ham, Salt pork, Bacon, Sauerkraut,
Cured foods
Pickles, pickle relish, Lox & Herring,
Olives
Luncheon Hot dogs, Cold cuts, deli meats, Pastrami,
Sausage, Corned beef, Spam
Meats
Processed
foods
Buttermilk, cheese
Canned foods: soups, tomato products,
vegetable juices, canned vegetables
Convenience foods such as: TV
dinners, canned raviolis, chili, macaroni &
cheese, Spaghetti, Commercial mixes,
frozen prepared foods, fast foods
Acceptable substitutes
Fresh garlic, fresh onion, garlic
powder, onion powder, black pepper,
lemon juice, low-sodium/salt-free
seasoning blends, vinegar
Homemade or low-sodium sauces
and salad dressings, vinegar, dry
mustard, unsalted popcorn, pretzels,
tortilla or corn chips
Fresh beef, veal, pork, poultry, fish,
eggs
Low-salt deli meats
Natural cheese (1-2 oz/week)
Homemade or low-sodium soups,
canned food without added salt
Homemade casseroles without added
salt, made with fresh or raw
vegetables, fresh meat, rice, pasta, or
unsalted canned vegetables