It is important to regulate your sodium and water consumption, as excess sodium can raise your blood pressure and slow down your metabolism. You know sodium best as table salt, but salt and sodium are hidden in all kinds of products, including packaged foods, fast foods, frozen foods, canned foods, and condiments, to name just a few.
When you eat sodium, the extra of sodium is deposited just beneath the skin, where it draws water, which is retained in your cells. This makes you look bloated and feel puffy. Not only that, but when liquid is retained in your cells, it decrease the fat-burning progression and slows your metabolism.
Sodium is practically in everything, you just have to be conscious of it, and reduce it where you can. It is recommended ingesting under 1,000 mg a day in order to maximize your body’s fat-burning potential and decrease your blood pressure. Read labels to check the sodium content of what you’re eating. Replace processed foods with fresh ones. Avoid prepackaged and canned foods. Be wary of salt-laden condiments; use very little soy sauce, mustard, and table salt. Go easy on dairy, and avoid processed meats, miso, tofu, canned or smoked seafood, anything pickled, relish, ketchup, and butter.
Here are some sodium-free substitutes you can use instead: garlic, lemon, olive
oil, vinegar, pepper, Mrs. Dash, McCormick, and Spice Hunter. You can use these fresh and dried spices as well: basil, cayenne, chili powder, cilantro, cumin,
curry, dill, garlic powder, ginger, lemon, lime, mint, onion powder, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme.
Diuretic veggies will also help since they include potassium, which can help
prevent fluid retention and metabolic slowdown. Spinach, lettuce, all greens, parsley, arugula, watercress, asparagus, and cucumber – all these products have diuretic qualities.