Low Sugar & Salt Diet

If you have been told you need to reduce your intake of sugar, salt and other unhealthy food ingredients it can be hard to know where to start. Learning how to eat better can be quite a challenge, but getting the right education can help a lot. A diet low in sugar and salt can greatly reduce your chances of developing serious health conditions like diabetes and heart disease, certainly a valid reason for changing your eating habits.

Become a Label Reader

In order to reduce your intake of salt and sugar you will need to know how much hidden sugar and salt is lurking in the foods you eat every day. Many foods that do not taste salty can have surprisingly high levels of salt and sodium, and foods that do not have a sweet taste can have lots of hidden sugar. Bread is just one example. Two slices of bread can contain as many milligrams of sodium as a serving of potato chips, and many adult breakfast cereals can have surprisingly high levels of sugar and other sweeteners.

Look for Substitutes

In order to reduce your intake of salt and sugar it is important to change the way you cook--and the way you eat. Using substitutes for sugar and salt can go a long way, and these substitutes can be both delicious and healthy. Artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet, Splenda and Stevia can be substituted for sugar in soft drinks, coffee and even baked goods. Simply replacing the sugar in your recipes can greatly reduce your intake of sugar without sacrificing the good taste you have come to expect. Low sodium versions of your favorite foods can help you reduce your salt intake as well. Common foods like canned vegetables, tomato sauce and more are all available in low sodium versions, so keep an eye out when you go shopping.

Small Changes Add Up

Many people find that sticking to a severe low salt and sugar diet can be too much of a challenge, but starting slowly may be a better approach. Making a radical change can leave you feeling deprived and lead to food cravings that could wreck your good intentions. By making a few simple changes, like using NutraSweet in your coffee instead of sugar, and choosing low salt frozen vegetables instead of high sodium canned ones can help you stick to your diet for the long term.