Choose a packaged food you buy regularly, such as bread, soup or a sauce. Before your next purchase, compare it with a similar product. Look at the salt content for the same amount of food, rather than comparing serving sizes that may differ between brands.
Keep the comparison practical. A lower-salt option should also suit your budget, preferences and any dietary restrictions. Notice how much you normally use: a small portion of a condiment and a large bowl of soup contribute differently to a meal. Lower salt does not automatically mean a food is otherwise balanced.
Try the alternative in a familiar meal and decide whether you would buy it again. When cooking, experiment with herbs, garlic or lemon to add flavour. Gradual changes can be easier to repeat than a sudden overhaul of everything in the cupboard.
Choose one workable swap today. If you have a prescribed diet, follow that advice. Potassium-containing salt substitutes need particular care when kidney disease or medicines affect potassium levels; ask a clinician or pharmacist before using them.
Ask for individual advice if you have kidney disease, heart failure, a prescribed diet or medicines that affect potassium. Do not change prescribed treatment on the basis of a food label.
This article is general health information and does not replace an individual medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment plan.