Skip Navigation. Overview Limiting sodium can be an important part of managing some health problems. How can you care for yourself at home? Read ingredient lists on food labels Read the list of ingredients on food labels to help you find how much sodium is in a food.

The label lists the ingredients in a food in descending order from the most to the least. If salt or sodium is high on the list, there may be a lot of sodium in the food. Know that sodium has different names. Sodium is also called monosodium glutamate MSG , sodium citrate, sodium alginate, and sodium phosphate.

Read Nutrition Facts labels On most foods, there is a Nutrition Facts label. Look at both the serving size and the sodium amount. The serving size is located at the top of the label, usually right under the "Nutrition Facts" title.

The amount of sodium is given in the list under the title. It is given in milligrams mg. Check the serving size carefully. A single serving is often very small, and you may eat more than one serving.

If this is the case, you will eat more sodium than listed on the label. For example, if the serving size for a canned soup is 1 cup and the sodium amount is mg, if you have 2 cups you will eat mg of sodium.

The nutrition facts for fresh fruits and vegetables are not listed on the food. They may be listed somewhere in the store. These foods usually have no sodium or low sodium. The Nutrition Facts label also gives you the Percent Daily Value for sodium. This is how much of the recommended amount of sodium a serving contains.

The daily value for sodium is 2, mg. Buy low-sodium foods Look for foods that are made with less sodium. Watch for the following words on the label. But there may be sodium already in the food naturally. This is still usually too much sodium.

Buy fresh vegetables, or frozen vegetables without added sauces. Buy low-sodium versions of canned vegetables, soups, and other canned goods.

Where can you learn more? We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. Use these tables to check the cholesterol and fat content of the foods you eat. This will help you keep track of your daily cholesterol intake. Check out these guidelines for a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet including how to choose meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables and more.

Fast food is easy and tasty, but it is often high in calories, fat and sodium. These things can be bad for you in large amounts. Learn more here. Snacks can be an important part of a nutritious eating plan if the foods you choose contribute to a well-balanced diet.

Find healthy snack ideas here. Trying to lower your cholesterol? Use these recipe modifications and substitutions to significantly lower the cholesterol and fat content of standard meals.

Patient Education. Low Sodium Diet A main source of sodium is table salt. Continue reading General Guidelines for Cutting Down on Salt Eliminate salty foods from your diet and reduce the amount of salt used in cooking.

Sea salt is no better than regular salt. Choose low sodium foods. Many salt-free or reduced salt products are available.

When reading food labels, low sodium is defined as mg of sodium per serving. Salt substitutes are sometimes made from potassium, so read the label. If you are on a low potassium diet, then check with your doctor before using those salt substitutes. Be creative and season your foods with spices, herbs, lemon, garlic, ginger, vinegar and pepper.

Remove the salt shaker from the table. Read ingredient labels to identify foods high in sodium. Items with mg or more of sodium are high in sodium. High sodium food additives include salt, brine, or other items that say sodium, such as monosodium glutamate.

Eat more home-cooked meals. Foods cooked from scratch are naturally lower in sodium than most instant and boxed mixes.