Recommended Limit:  Patients with heart failure should limit sodium intake to less than 2,000 milligrams per day (less than one teaspoon per day).

Limiting sodium is one of the most important things that people with heart failure can do.

• Sodium makes the body hold on to fluid. To pump the added fluid, the heart has to work harder. People with heart failure shouldn't put this extra strain on their hearts.

• Excess fluid can also cause weight gain. Your heart has to work harder when you put on extra weight.

• Too much sodium in the diet can worsen symptoms like swelling and shortness of breath. If those symptoms become severe, the person may need to be admitted to the hospital.

• Sodium increases blood pressure. High blood pressure constricts the arterioles, making them resistant to blood flow. This makes the heart work progressively harder to pump enough blood to the body's tissues and organs.

The D.A.S.H. (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan has all the components of a heart-healthy diet. It's delicious and varied — rich in vegetables and fruits, with whole grains, high-fiber foods, lean meats and poultry, and fish at least twice a week, and fat-free or 1 percent fat dairy products. Download a PDF of the complete D.A.S.H. eating plan. This link is provided for convenience only, and is not an endorsement or assurance of the entity or any product or service.

Cut down on table salt

• Take the salt shaker off the table.
• Discuss using salt substitutes with your doctor. 

• bouillon cubes
• cooking sherry or cooking wine
• chili sauce
• meat tenderizer
• seasoned salts
• soy sauce
• steak sauce
• tamari
• Worcestershire sauce

Try substituting salt-free seasonings such as lemon juice, vinegar and herbs.

Drain and rinse canned foods before preparing them to remove some of the salt.

Substitute fresh fruits and vegetables for canned or frozen versions with added salt.

Shop for canned or frozen foods with no salt added.

Avoid packaged foods such as soups or rice dishes that come with a packet of powdered seasoning. 

Making your own chicken broth is easy – just simmer chicken parts for about 30 minutes with some onion, celery, garlic, pepper and spices. Pick the meat off and reserve for other recipes. Cool the broth overnight in the refrigerator, then remove the layer of fat that forms on the top. Strain the broth through a sieve or cheesecloth. Portion it into 8-ounce cups or containers and freeze. Use it for soups or in place of water when cooking rice, pasta, potatoes or vegetables.

Avoid processed convenience foods
Most of us take in more sodium through packaged convenience foods and snacks than by using table salt.

Look for "low-salt" or "low-sodium" labels on cans and packages. This label means the food has 140 milligrams or less sodium per serving. "Very low sodium" means it has 35 mg or less per serving.

“Reduced-salt” or “reduced-sodium” simply means that the product has at least 25 percent less sodium than the original version of the same product. These foods may still have more sodium than you’re allowed.

• Canned soups and dry soup mixes
• Canned meats and fish
• Ham, bacon and sausage
• Salted nuts and peanut butter
• Instant cooked cereals
• Salted butter and margarine
• Processed meats, such as deli items and hot dogs
• Prepared baking mixes (pancake, muffin, cornbread, etc.)
• Prepackaged frozen dinners (look for options where one serving has less than 400 mg of sodium)
• Preseasoned mixes (tacos, chili, rices, sauces, gravies, etc.)
• Snack foods (pretzels, potato chips, olives, pickles)
• Cheese
• Tomatoes
• Salad dressings
• Fast food

Pay attention to your serving sizes. 
A 2.5-serving can of soup with 200 mg of sodium per serving actually gives you 500 mg of sodium if you eat  the whole thing. That’s a real dent in your 2,000 mg-per-day allowance.

Watch for other forms of sodium.
Read the ingredients. Many foods contain more than one form of sodium, such as

• sodium alginate
• sodium sulfite
• sodium caseinate
• disodium phosphate
• sodium benzoate
• sodium hydroxide
• monosodium glutamate or MSG
• sodium citrate.

Know what’s in your medicines.
Some medicines are high in sodium, too – always read the sodium content and warnings before taking an over-the-counter medication. Don’t take headache or heartburn medicines that contain sodium carbonate or bicarbonate.

This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 10/07/09.