Alow sodium diet is a diet that includes no more than 1,500 to 2,400 mg ofsodium per day.[1]
The human minimum requirement for sodium in the diet is about 500 mg per day,[2] which is typically less than one-sixth as much as many diets "seasoned to taste". For certain people with salt-sensitive blood pressure or diseases such asMénière's disease, this extra intake may cause a negative effect on health.
WHO guidelines[3][4] state that adults should consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium/day (i.e. about 5 grams;1⁄6 oz of traditional table salt), and at least 3,510 mg of potassium per day.[5] In Europe, adults and children consume about twice as much sodium as recommended by experts.[6]
A low sodium diet has a useful effect to reduce blood pressure, both in people withhypertension and in people with normal blood pressure.[7] Taken together, a low salt diet (median of approximately 4.4 g/day – approx 1800 mg sodium) in hypertensive people resulted in a decrease insystolic blood pressure by 4.2 mmHg, and indiastolic blood pressure by 2.1 mmHg.[7]
Advising people to eat a low salt diet, however, is of unclear effect in either hypertensive or normal tensive people.[8] In 2012, the British JournalHeart published an article claiming that a low salt diet appears to increase the risk of death in those withcongestive heart failure, but the article was retracted in 2013.[9] The article wasretracted by the journal when it was found that two of the studies cited contained duplicate data that could not be verified.[10]
A doctor might prescribe a low sodium diet for patients withdiabetes insipidus.[citation needed]
A 2021Cochrane review ofcontrolled trials in people withchronic kidney disease at any stage, including those ondialysis, found high-certainty evidence that reduced salt intake may help to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well asalbuminuria.[11] However there was also moderate certainty evidence that some people may experience hypotensive symptoms, such as dizziness, following sudden sodium restriction. It is unclear whether this affects the dosage required for anti-hypertensive medications. The effect of salt restriction on extracellular fluid, oedema, and total body weight reduction was also uncertain.[11]
At least 23 clinical trials found that low-salt diets worsened insulin resistance, fasting insulin and/or glucose/insulin responses to an oral glucose tolerance test.[12]
Salt restriction paradoxically caused a significant increase in blood pressure in a substantial subgroup (younger individuals with normotension or prehypertension).[12]
Low-salt intake consistently increasedRAAS and heart rate, and was associated with an increase in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events.[12]
Approximately 15% of adults have inverse salt sensitivity, with blood pressure increasing from eating less salt.[13][14]
Sodium occurs naturally in most foods. The most common form of sodium issodium chloride, which may be found sold as—depending on the size and shape of the salt crystals—table salt,sea salt, andkosher salt, among others. Milk, beets, and celery also naturally contain sodium, as does drinking water, although the amount varies depending on the source. Sodium is also added to various food products. Some of these added forms aremonosodium glutamate (MSG),sodium nitrite,sodium saccharin,baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), andsodium benzoate.[citation needed]
Because large amounts of salts are given out by regenerativewater softeners, over 60 cities inSouthern California have banned them because of elevated salt levels in ground water reclamation projects. Water labeled as "drinking water" in supermarkets contains natural sodium since it is usually only filtered with a carbon filter and will contain any sodium present in the source water.[15]
Condiments and seasonings such asWorcestershire sauce,soy sauce,onion salt,garlic salt, andbouillon cubes contain sodium.Processed meats, such asbacon,sausage, andham, and canned soups and vegetables are all examples of foods that contain added sodium.Fast foods are generally very high in sodium.[16] Also, processed foods such aspotato chips,frozen dinners andcured meats have high sodium content.[citation needed]
Unprocessed, fresh foods, such as fresh fruits, most vegetables, beef, poultry, fish and unprocessed grains are low in sodium. Low– or no–sodium products, and corresponding versions of products otherwise high in sodium, can be found in stores as well as online.Salt substitutes such aspotassium chloride may be used to provide a similar taste to salt while reducing sodium intake, and flavor additives such asmonosodium glutamate can help reduce sodium intake by enhancing other flavors.[17]
Other foods that are low in sodium include:
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