How to Make Healthier Food Choices

Sodium increases your blood pressure by suppressing nitric oxide, a gas that relaxes the blood vessels. A single side dish, such as sliced potatoes, may use up one-fifth or one-fourth of your allowance for sodium. You can also find no-sodium substitutes for salt at the grocery. Sodium is less of a concern for people who do not have high blood pressure. In fact, athletes may need more sodium because sodium is lost in perspiration. Sodium is a mineral necessary for life.