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.

@contentandwell

@lioness You are not alone in feeling that eggs need salt, I am that way too, and I have another friend who feels the same way! I often put some low sodium cheese on top of the egg and that does provide some added taste without much sodium.
JK

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@lioness for me and eggs its margarine but i do use tub type not stick

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@hopeful33250

@danab I have seen that in stores, but had no idea what it was for. Thank you for providing that information.
Do you use Himalayan pink salt on a regular basis?

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@hopeful33250 yes mainly in recipes i don't add salt at the table it was a Dietitian at my cardio rehab that mentioned it. It is a strong taste so maybe start with a small amount even a 1/4 the amount until you see how you like it

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@danab

@lioness for me and eggs its margarine but i do use tub type not stick

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@danab My Heart surgeon told me to get of red meat For 7-9 yrs I didn't eat neat then had beef stroganoff one day I could Snell the fat in it ,my dog got the beef Now I can eat a little about once a week maybe have a hamburger

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@lioness

@danab My Heart surgeon told me to get of red meat For 7-9 yrs I didn't eat neat then had beef stroganoff one day I could Snell the fat in it ,my dog got the beef Now I can eat a little about once a week maybe have a hamburger

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@lioness ah one of my weakness i love a good steak or prime rib but like my dr also said i limit it to occasionally. No red meat but at the most once a week. But my Wife does not like red meat so we mostly eat turkey chicken and pork. I save the steak usually when we eat out and well done like the drs require. I used to be a medium rare type of guy but no more

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@danab

@lioness ah one of my weakness i love a good steak or prime rib but like my dr also said i limit it to occasionally. No red meat but at the most once a week. But my Wife does not like red meat so we mostly eat turkey chicken and pork. I save the steak usually when we eat out and well done like the drs require. I used to be a medium rare type of guy but no more

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@danab The things we have to do wait till you get older lots of stuff then

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I have low sodium. The doctor says eat more salt. She said she never thought she would have to say to say that.
I eat lots of fruit and cook everything from scratch. I have a hard time eating much salt as I think it masks the foods flavor. Mom was the same way and lived to be 97.

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@lioness

@danab The things we have to do wait till you get older lots of stuff then

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@lioness oh im no spring chicken well maybe my new heart is. But im 60 this month the proud papa to 5 kids and 12 grandchildren so far 2 of them are not parents yet.

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@danab

@lioness ah one of my weakness i love a good steak or prime rib but like my dr also said i limit it to occasionally. No red meat but at the most once a week. But my Wife does not like red meat so we mostly eat turkey chicken and pork. I save the steak usually when we eat out and well done like the drs require. I used to be a medium rare type of guy but no more

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@danab My husband and I both love beef, I generally serve it one time a week. Why should it be well done though? I was under the impression that was true of ground beef because when it is ground what was on the outside is now throughout, but I thought with steak that since the outside gets pretty well cooked that it was not a problem if you had it medium or medium rare. I don't have heart problems but I am immunosuppressed so have to be careful of bacteria but no one has told me I have to have steak well-done. If that happens I may as well give it up.
JK

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@danab

@lioness for me and eggs its margarine but i do use tub type not stick

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Did you know that margarine was invented as a supplement to feed turkeys to make them gain weight faster?

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