Balance Sodium Levels By Eating Healthy Foods

How much sodium should you consume? If you have high blood pressure, controlling the amount of sodium you get from the foods you eat is important. And if you want to protect your heart, and your health, limiting the amount of sodium in your diet is a good idea.

But how much sodium is safe? The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Heart Association recommend healthy adults consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. And if you have high blood pressure, or are at risk for developing hypertension, experts recommend no more than 1,500 mg per day.

However, a new study suggests these recommendations may be too low. In a study published in The Lancet, researchers followed more than 100,000 people for four years. They tracked their eating habits (including sodium consumption), and measured the number of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure in this study group.

Here's what they found. People who consumed less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day were more likely have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, than people who consumed 3,000 mg to 6,000 mg of sodium per day.

While some health experts dispute the findings that suggest higher sodium levels may provide protective benefits, the study does provide some food for thought. Everyone needs a certain amount of sodium to support nerve and muscle function, hydration, and blood pressure. But that doesn't mean you should binge on high-sodium foods like canned soup, processed meat, and fast food.

You should still aim to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy or soy products, legumes, and drink plenty of water. And if you want to season your food or bake a recipe with a little salt, that's OK too.

We've taken the guess-work out of following a low-sodium diet by creating a selection of entrees and sides that taste great and don't contain a lot of added sodium. That's because our low sodium, heart healthy meals are all made from fresh ingredients, and not processed ingredients typically used in frozen meals. Check out the selection, place an order, and enjoy.