Cut your Sodium Intake

Even if you skip the salt shaker, you still may be getting more sodium than you think. You should aim for no more than 2,300 milligrams per day. To shake the excess sodium from your diet:

• Check labels. Sodium is used in a variety of products, including bread and cereal.

• Beware of condiments. Condiments, such as ketchup, mustard and soy sauce can pack a lot of sodium, so try to limit your use of these.

• Make your marinade. The sodium content of store-bought marinades can be very high. Make your own using olive oil, vinegar, and herbs.

• Spice up your diet. Use herbs and spices to add flavor to dishes. Try parsley, basil, chives, ginger, cumin or oregano on veggies. For meats, add ginger, bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary and sage.