Good morning!
This week I will continue my blog on Diseases and Low Sodium Diet.
Taken from Mayo Clinic website.
Heart Disease can be improved - or even prevented - by certain lifestyle changes:
Stop Smoking.
Control Your Blood Pressure. If you are on medication to control your blood pressure, get regular check-ups with your physician. For everyone else, do occasional blood pressure checks at your local retail locations that offer that service - some free of charge.
Check Your Cholesterol. Many areas offer free or reduced price screenings on a regular basis. Check with your local hospital or clinic.
Keep Diabetes Under Control. Work with your doctor and/or dietitian to manage your diet and exercise, weight, blood sugars, and medications to attain optimum control of your diabetes.
Keep Moving. Even as little at 10 minutes a day is a good start! Find ways to work in more walking, such as parking farther from the stores, gardening, or walking around your lawn to check the flowers every day.
Eat Healthy Foods. A heart-healthy diet based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains - and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium - can help you control your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating one or two servings of fish every week also is beneficial.
*Read labels on the products that you buy and purchase the lower sodium option - sometimes that can be the store brand or plain label.
Maintain a Healthy Weight. Losing as little at 10 pounds can make you feel better and reduce stress on your heart.
Manage Stress. This is a hard one, but find a way that works for you to reduce the affects of those stressful moments. A daily walk outside, weather permitting, does wonders. Also, they say laughter is good for stress - and good for our mental health in general!
Practice Good Hygiene Habits. Did you know that unhealthy dental hygiene can contribute to heart disease? Wash your hands, brush your teeth, and take regular showers or baths - what your mother always told you. :)
Get a Flu Shot. This one simple thing you can do each year can make such a difference in your life! We all have read the deaths that have occurred due to flu outbreaks in our states, so please get vaccinated.
This is all I have for this week. I have a busy week as I prepare for my last Farmers Market of the season, and as we prepare for harvest of the crops on our farms. Please stay healthy and drive safely!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Diseases and Low Sodium Diet
Taken from MayoClinic.com, written by the Mayo Clinic staff.
There are many diseases and conditions that can benefit from consuming a low sodium diet. I will try to hilite one of these each week in the following posts.
1) Acute kidney failure.
During your recovery, your doctor may recommend a special diet to help support your kidneys and limit the work they must do. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian who can analyze your current diet and suggest ways to make your diet easier on your kidneys.
Depending on your situation, your dietitian may recommend that you, a) Choose lower potassium foods at each meal. High-potassium foods include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Low-potassium foods include apples, cabbage, carrots, green beans, grapes and strawberries; and b) Avoid products with added salt. Lower the amount of sodium you eat each day by avoiding products with added salt, including many convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, canned soups and fast foods. Other foods with added salt include salty snack foods, canned vegetables, and processed meats and cheeses.
As your kidneys recover, you may no longer need to eat a special diet.
NOTE: I have also found that boxed mixes in the store, such as as well as items with baking powder, such as biscuit dough, are generally higher in sodium as well. Start by reading labels of the foods you eat and then look for a lower sodium version. Usually, eating plain meats, vegetables and fruits are the best diet to consume when you are limiting your sodium; but watch out for the added "injected brines" in many of your fresh and frozen meats, especially poultry, which we all think is the healthiest protein.
Have a great week, and I'll have more next week!
There are many diseases and conditions that can benefit from consuming a low sodium diet. I will try to hilite one of these each week in the following posts.
1) Acute kidney failure.
During your recovery, your doctor may recommend a special diet to help support your kidneys and limit the work they must do. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian who can analyze your current diet and suggest ways to make your diet easier on your kidneys.
Depending on your situation, your dietitian may recommend that you, a) Choose lower potassium foods at each meal. High-potassium foods include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Low-potassium foods include apples, cabbage, carrots, green beans, grapes and strawberries; and b) Avoid products with added salt. Lower the amount of sodium you eat each day by avoiding products with added salt, including many convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, canned soups and fast foods. Other foods with added salt include salty snack foods, canned vegetables, and processed meats and cheeses.
As your kidneys recover, you may no longer need to eat a special diet.
NOTE: I have also found that boxed mixes in the store, such as as well as items with baking powder, such as biscuit dough, are generally higher in sodium as well. Start by reading labels of the foods you eat and then look for a lower sodium version. Usually, eating plain meats, vegetables and fruits are the best diet to consume when you are limiting your sodium; but watch out for the added "injected brines" in many of your fresh and frozen meats, especially poultry, which we all think is the healthiest protein.
Have a great week, and I'll have more next week!
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