Salt, Weight Loss and a Healthy Heart
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Have you ever wondered why eating out can cause weight gain of a pound or more in just a few hours? Usually it's because the meal you ate contained a lot of sodium, which causes water retention.
The weight gain is from water, not fat, and you'll lose it quickly as your body processes the sodium out of your system. However, while the weight gain doesn't last, it's a good idea to watch the amount of sodium in your diet.
Foods naturally low in sodium help to keep your heart healthy. You'll be pleased to know that a healthy diet for your heart is also a healthy diet for weight loss. And losing weight is an excellent way to lower your blood pressure and/or keep it within a healthy range.
Reducing the amount of sodium in your diet is just one of the dietary changes you can make to reduce high blood pressure or the risk of it. Other changes you can make include:
- Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day for potassium.
- Eating fat-free or low-fat dairy products or other foods high in calcium at least 2-3 times a day.
- Limiting alcohol consumption to no more than 1 drink a day for females or 1-2 drinks for males.
- Adding more movement to your day.
All of which are good for the waist as well as the heart.
For more information on sodium, including an explanation of why it causes water retention and links to the American Heart and Stroke Associations, see our tutorial How Salt Affects Your Weight
Healthy regards,
Megan Porter, RD
