Big Benefits Are Seen From Eating Less Salt

The study showed that "everyone benefits from less salt, but people at higher risk for heart problems — blacks, people with high blood pressure and people over 65 — would benefit most."

• The American Heart Association recommends 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day for the average person. Two grams sounds like a lot but salt is Everywhere. Look for low-sodium products in the grocery aisles, and eat fresh foods.
• Limit your intake of processed foods and canned vegetables. An estimated 77 percent of a person’s daily sodium intake comes from these items. One serving of canned food may have up to one gram of sodium. A hotdog with relish can have more than a gram of sodium.
  
• Try easing off of the preference for salt by introducing new flavors and textures into your meals. Add fresh fruits, whole grains, legumes such as dried beans and lentils into a reduced sodium diet. Soon you won't even miss the taste for salt.
• Try going salt free by adding more zesty herbs and spices such as garlic powder, cumin, cinnamon, oregano and fresh ground pepper.

Many ancient civilizations levied taxes on salt. Salt was considered so precious that it was traded ounce for ounce for gold (now at $900/oz). In ancient China, coins were made of salt. In the Mediterranean regions, salt cakes were used as money. Now there is more impetus to treat salt like money - sparingly if possible.