Sodium health is the subject of many debates. Does sodium raise blood pressure, do you need it in your food, do you have enough, and should you worry about it?

Many people spend a great deal of time worrying about their health. When you take into account all the different sources of sodium (salt), the amount of salt consumed from the diet can be quite high. According to most nutritionists, the best way to cut back on sodium is to avoid salt.

Instead, eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and whole grain products. If you can, eat fish, but do not eat too much.

There are other less obvious ways to cut back on sodium. One of them is to cook with more vegetables, such as spinach or other green leafy vegetables. Browning meat instead of using a pan spray helps to reduce the sodium content. Potatoes, rice, beans, and other unprocessed starches, grains, and vegetables have less sodium than processed or preserved foods.

Water is also a good substitute for sodium. Just 2 quarts of water per day can help to replace sodium lost by sweating and can help to balance electrolytes in the body.

There are many ways to cook without the salt shaker in the kitchen. Here are some of them:

– Instead of throwing the salt shaker out with the rest of the old salt in the cabinet, make soup. Try it with chicken or a vegetable dish. It will taste great and take less salt.

– Substitute in a little butter or margarine in place of salt when you are cooking a fish. For instance, instead of salt and pepper, add some garlic or parsley.

– Another great way to cook without the salt shaker is to make a slow cooker dinner. Simply add the ingredients and cook slowly over low heat. Or, if you like things more interesting, you can boil a few pieces of meat and place them in the crock pot.

It is even possible to use the salt shaker to your advantage. Instead of cooking the dinner as usual, do it in the microwave or oven.

You may find it difficult to make these healthier meals on your own, but there are many recipes available on the internet. You could buy a few books to get ideas. Look through them and look for ideas that you like.

One thing to remember when thinking about sodium health is that when you eat salty foods, you do tend to be happier. Some of the best ways to cook without the salt shaker is to cook in a slow cooker, use vegetables in place of salt, and use a little butter in place of salt. These are some ideas that you can try to cook without the salt shaker.