Foods for a low sodium diet

There are many reasons to start a low sodium diet and high blood pressure is just one of them. An excess of salt may lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or cancer. To reduce salt, look for foods low in sodium.

Low sodium foods too eat

Find below a low sodium foods list with foods you can include in your diet.

Cereals - Bread, cookies and biscuits without salt, home cooked dry pasta, potatoes, rice. Whole grain breakfast cereals such as shredded wheat and oats are usually low in salt. Home baked pies, cakes and desserts, prepared without salt.

Vegetables and fruits - Virtually all, if they are fresh, nuts and seeds are fine if toasted without any salt. Onions, leeks, spring onions and garlic are especially good.

Beans and pulses - Dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, cooked at home, tofu.

Eggs, fish and Meat - All types of white fish, oily fish if not processed. Eggs and all types of meat, lean meat is better, if fresh, are good.

Dairy - Whole, half-fat or fat free milk, plain yogurt, cottage cheese.

Condiments - Olive or sunflower oil, vegetable oil from nuts or seeds; all aromatic herbs; spices such as saffron, mustard seed, cardamom and cumin; vinegar and lemon juice.

Drink - Water, low in minerals, natural fruit juices, tea, herbal teas.

High sodium foods to avoid

There are some foods that no one on a low sodium diet should have.

Avoid anything frozen or canned unless you preserved the food and know it does not have added salt. Keep olives away.

Avoid particularly canned soups.

Avoid deli meats, cured meats such as bacon or ham, sausages, smoked fish, canned fish or meat, fish roe, shellfish and oysters.

Avoid cheese in general and mature cheeses in particular.

Avoid salt, flavored salts, soy sauce, commercial mayonnaise or ketchup, bicarbonate of soda, stock cubes.

Avoid energy drinks, drink lemonade, cola, table wine and spirits, in moderation.