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    Worth Your Salt: 7 Ways to Cut Your Sodium Intake Through Cooking

    By | Shine Food – Tue, Feb 19, 2013 5:36 PM EST

    Low SodiumLow SodiumDid you know that the recommended daily sodium intake for a healthy American is 2,300 mg, which equals 1 teaspoon of salt? And according to sodium expert and author Sodium Girl, 90 percent of adults consume almost double that recommended amount on a daily basis! So if you are looking to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, here are a few very easy ideas you can use when cooking your favorite foods and recipes. From using smart citrus to adding spices and fresh herbs, these seven tips will have you loving your food all while pushing aside that salt shaker. Plus check out Sodium Girl's Low Sodium Recipe Rally, get some amazing low sodium recipes from bloggers, and enter to win a Vitamix!

    1) Add Fresh Herbs
    Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, dill and cilantro add flowery, bright flavor accents, intensifying the flavor of your food without the use of salt.

    2) Use Lemon
    Lemon juice provides an acidic burst of bright flavor that brings the natural flavors of foods like beans, veggies and greens to life!

    Related: The 25 healthiest foods under $1

    3) Add Sweetness
    Adding a touch of sugar instead of salt is another way to bring out the natural flavor in your foods. Spices that accent sugar, such as cinnamon and vanilla, may also be appropriate for certain recipes.

    4) Add Heat and Spices
    Jalapeño, chili powder, cayenne pepper and more! Add a burst of heat to give your food a bold flavor. The warmth of spicy accents lessens the need for salt.
    Hint: Use Pepper and Hold the Salt
    Black pepper is a super easy spice to use for quick, sodium-free flavor. Pass the pepper shaker and scoot the salt to the side.

    5) Try Fresh Zingy Fruit
    Zingy fresh fruits like kiwi, tangerine, grapefruit, and pineapple offer up a way to brighten your recipe flavors without adding salt.

    By Kathy Patalsky
    Follow Kathy on Babble

    For 2 more easy tips for low-sodium cooking, visit Babble!

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