Salty Facts – Heart Failure and Sodium

Dietary sodium restriction is one of the most common self-care behaviors suggested to patients with heart failure. Although putting less salt on foods is a step in the right direction, it isn’t enough. There is so much hidden salt in foods that people aren't aware of – more than 75 percent of sodium Americans consume is estimated to come from processed foods – not the salt shaker. In this video, Mayo Clinic cardiologist, Dr. Farris Timimi discusses ways patients with heart failure can more effectively control their sodium intake.

How do you monitor how much sodium you're consuming? Reducing your salt-intake can feel like a balancing act – what challenges do you face while trying to regulate sodium?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Hi @riflemanz64 @pdilly @mlmcg @healthytoday @mayo33 @scardycat @carnes @gingerw @warpedtrekker @predictable @hopeful33250 @rosemarya @harriethodgson1 @danab @jillybeans22 @tiredofbeingsick @murryone @camaroyo @suscros68 @success101 @tahoetaylor @carsue @karen00 @markm75 @maryrohrer1 @soliloquized @ttibsen @afrobin @chris24 @joma7862 @thankful @eileena @dothag @paladin1 @bjanderson @barbarajane @cynaburst @cynthiamary @lynnkay1956 @medic7054 @evelyn247 @c410djh @jigglejaws94 @thankfulalways @mpeters @sammysky @jwoj @brittalisse @pfazenbaker @pepper1311 @harmonybentley @mzhp1988 @wangs @gibbs,

Did you know that most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods such as canned soups, canned beans, fast food, and not from salt added to home-cooked meals? I’d like to invite you to add your "grain of salt” to this discussion about sodium consumption and heart failure management.

Do you read food labels and check sodium content before buying packaged foods? How do you make good choices when eating out? Any tips on how to get started on a low-sodium diet? Pull up a chair, make yourself at home and let’s get the conversation going.

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I'm a dedicated label reader and pay special attention to the serving size. Also keep the difference between a portion and a serving in mind. A portion is the amount you choose to eat. A portion is a measured amount of food based on nutritional data.

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@harriethodgson1

I'm a dedicated label reader and pay special attention to the serving size. Also keep the difference between a portion and a serving in mind. A portion is the amount you choose to eat. A portion is a measured amount of food based on nutritional data.

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There's an error in this post. A serving is a measured amount of food based on nutritional data.

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @riflemanz64 @pdilly @mlmcg @healthytoday @mayo33 @scardycat @carnes @gingerw @warpedtrekker @predictable @hopeful33250 @rosemarya @harriethodgson1 @danab @jillybeans22 @tiredofbeingsick @murryone @camaroyo @suscros68 @success101 @tahoetaylor @carsue @karen00 @markm75 @maryrohrer1 @soliloquized @ttibsen @afrobin @chris24 @joma7862 @thankful @eileena @dothag @paladin1 @bjanderson @barbarajane @cynaburst @cynthiamary @lynnkay1956 @medic7054 @evelyn247 @c410djh @jigglejaws94 @thankfulalways @mpeters @sammysky @jwoj @brittalisse @pfazenbaker @pepper1311 @harmonybentley @mzhp1988 @wangs @gibbs,

Did you know that most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods such as canned soups, canned beans, fast food, and not from salt added to home-cooked meals? I’d like to invite you to add your "grain of salt” to this discussion about sodium consumption and heart failure management.

Do you read food labels and check sodium content before buying packaged foods? How do you make good choices when eating out? Any tips on how to get started on a low-sodium diet? Pull up a chair, make yourself at home and let’s get the conversation going.

Jump to this post

Hi, yes I am aware of food choices and sodium. I rarely use processed foods, except for salad dressings. I check the label and management the amount. I mostly buy fresh fruits and vegs, bison meat, and make my own bread without sodium. This helps alot. Once in awhile I eat something that is off this regiment, like yesterday, when we celebrated Scott's birthday with Costco pizza. Not recommended for more than once a year. Also, raw organic celery daily helps eliminate extra water retention. Food is one of the best medicines.

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @riflemanz64 @pdilly @mlmcg @healthytoday @mayo33 @scardycat @carnes @gingerw @warpedtrekker @predictable @hopeful33250 @rosemarya @harriethodgson1 @danab @jillybeans22 @tiredofbeingsick @murryone @camaroyo @suscros68 @success101 @tahoetaylor @carsue @karen00 @markm75 @maryrohrer1 @soliloquized @ttibsen @afrobin @chris24 @joma7862 @thankful @eileena @dothag @paladin1 @bjanderson @barbarajane @cynaburst @cynthiamary @lynnkay1956 @medic7054 @evelyn247 @c410djh @jigglejaws94 @thankfulalways @mpeters @sammysky @jwoj @brittalisse @pfazenbaker @pepper1311 @harmonybentley @mzhp1988 @wangs @gibbs,

Did you know that most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods such as canned soups, canned beans, fast food, and not from salt added to home-cooked meals? I’d like to invite you to add your "grain of salt” to this discussion about sodium consumption and heart failure management.

Do you read food labels and check sodium content before buying packaged foods? How do you make good choices when eating out? Any tips on how to get started on a low-sodium diet? Pull up a chair, make yourself at home and let’s get the conversation going.

Jump to this post

I'm a dedicated label reader have to be if I want to stay alive. Salt to much or to little can do you more harm then good. My husband was a diabetic and me a heart patient so its important to read label,s since there is so much sodium ,fat, and sugar in what we eat from a can.

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @riflemanz64 @pdilly @mlmcg @healthytoday @mayo33 @scardycat @carnes @gingerw @warpedtrekker @predictable @hopeful33250 @rosemarya @harriethodgson1 @danab @jillybeans22 @tiredofbeingsick @murryone @camaroyo @suscros68 @success101 @tahoetaylor @carsue @karen00 @markm75 @maryrohrer1 @soliloquized @ttibsen @afrobin @chris24 @joma7862 @thankful @eileena @dothag @paladin1 @bjanderson @barbarajane @cynaburst @cynthiamary @lynnkay1956 @medic7054 @evelyn247 @c410djh @jigglejaws94 @thankfulalways @mpeters @sammysky @jwoj @brittalisse @pfazenbaker @pepper1311 @harmonybentley @mzhp1988 @wangs @gibbs,

Did you know that most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods such as canned soups, canned beans, fast food, and not from salt added to home-cooked meals? I’d like to invite you to add your "grain of salt” to this discussion about sodium consumption and heart failure management.

Do you read food labels and check sodium content before buying packaged foods? How do you make good choices when eating out? Any tips on how to get started on a low-sodium diet? Pull up a chair, make yourself at home and let’s get the conversation going.

Jump to this post

Avid label reader as well, if sodium is a bit high on a certain food I will try and water it down a bit, try and buy organic foods when affordable😫, don’t really eat out much at All, like to manage my eating, it takes a lot of mental discipline but it’s worth it.

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@kanaazpereira - Definitely read all labels when deciding to purchase items I'm not familiar with. We really stay away from processed foods and I am a big fan of cooking from scratch. I can control what we eat a lot easier that way. I eat lots of wild chinook salmon and steelhead that comes out of local rivers or the cold waters of Alaska. The beef and poultry we eat is in small amounts and is always local grass fed beef and local pastured chickens. I do most of the cooking and love to experiment with different things. I love to make stir-fry's using small amounts of protein with lots of different vege's. "Yum yum, give me some"! Jim @thankful

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @riflemanz64 @pdilly @mlmcg @healthytoday @mayo33 @scardycat @carnes @gingerw @warpedtrekker @predictable @hopeful33250 @rosemarya @harriethodgson1 @danab @jillybeans22 @tiredofbeingsick @murryone @camaroyo @suscros68 @success101 @tahoetaylor @carsue @karen00 @markm75 @maryrohrer1 @soliloquized @ttibsen @afrobin @chris24 @joma7862 @thankful @eileena @dothag @paladin1 @bjanderson @barbarajane @cynaburst @cynthiamary @lynnkay1956 @medic7054 @evelyn247 @c410djh @jigglejaws94 @thankfulalways @mpeters @sammysky @jwoj @brittalisse @pfazenbaker @pepper1311 @harmonybentley @mzhp1988 @wangs @gibbs,

Did you know that most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods such as canned soups, canned beans, fast food, and not from salt added to home-cooked meals? I’d like to invite you to add your "grain of salt” to this discussion about sodium consumption and heart failure management.

Do you read food labels and check sodium content before buying packaged foods? How do you make good choices when eating out? Any tips on how to get started on a low-sodium diet? Pull up a chair, make yourself at home and let’s get the conversation going.

Jump to this post

We eat very little processed food. I do read food labels and it’s amazing how much sodium is added. We eat a lot of chicken and fresh veggies. I make most of our meals from scratch and I love to bake. I tend to use less salt than recipes call for. When you get used to eating less sodium you can really tell the difference when you go out for dinner.

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@bjanderson Another thing is when I bake I use 1/2 the sugar amount

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@lioness

@bjanderson Another thing is when I bake I use 1/2 the sugar amount

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I’ll have to give that a try.😊

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