If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (bottom blood pressure number greater than 90 mm), you should be limiting foods high in sodium and lose weight. How much you should restrict sodium in foods you eat depends on what your doctor recommended.
Generally, you should stick to fresh, unprocessed foods, not add salt to your food after cooking (only add half the salt in a recipe) and avoid salty foods (like fast foods, ham, bacon, sausages, canned vegetables or soups and sauerkraut). This level would be called a mild salt restriction (3,000 to 4,000 mg sodium). You probably should not use a salt substitute (potassium chloride) or reduced salt shaker either. Your doctor may also want you to not use salt in cooking. This level would contain 1,000 to 2,000 mg sodium. Ask to see a dietitian.
FYI Salt is 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
Foods high in sodium do not necessarily taste salty.
Persons who smoke tend to add more salt to their food.
