Benefits of a No Salt-Added Diet
We all know it: Naturally occurring and added salt in our daily diet are usually many times the recommended sodium levels. Added salt is everywhere, as it enhances flavor and food companies make liberal use of that cheap and cheerful mineral. Cutting out salt can feel daunting, but you can make big improvements in blood pressure and overall health even just cutting back ½ a teaspoon a day! Incorporating small changes in the right direction can help you avoid issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and/or hypertension. Many people have been able to reverse these chronic diseases with a whole food, plant-based approach to their diet. Dr. Esselstyn, a former cardiac surgeon, and his family lead the way in teaching people how to adopt a nutrition-based therapy which has been scientifically-proven to reverse heart disease. An approach like this is often less invasive and more effective than surgical procedures and drugs alone. The corner stone of Dr. Esselstyn’s plant-based nutrition is eating a whole-food, unprocessed diet which includes no added oil and no added salt.
Many people are resistant to a low-sodium diet simply because they are not sure if food will still taste good. You will soon find that when you swap salty foods for foods low sodium versions for a couple of weeks, your taste buds come back to base level and you might prefer the taste of food the way nature intended.
Research also demonstrates that following a low sodium diet reduces high blood pressure. Try incorporating more whole, food plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and a small amount of nuts and seeds into your diet to start feeling your best. Need some tips to get started? Visit Jane & Ann Esselstyn’s YouTube page to find healthful recipes including their Kale Caesar Salad with our organic almond flour!
Tips to eat less salt:
- Choose foods that have no added salt such as all of our salt-free breads and some of our organic nut butters (Sprouted Amaretto Almond, Roasted Cashew Bliss and Sprouted Fig & Nut)
- Be aware of the salt content in the foods you are eating and try tokeep it under 1500 mg per day
- Cook meals without adding salt and using no added salt ingredients, such as salt-free canned beans
- Sprinkle just a pinch of high quality Himalayan pink salt on top of your meal
To your good health always!
