Low-Sodium Diet: Complete Guide
Last updated: 20 February 2026
A low sodium diet (or low salt diet) is an eating pattern that limits sodium intake, often to around 2,300 mg per day or less–for example 1,500 mg for stricter targets. It is commonly recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, or other conditions where reducing sodium may help. A low sodium diet menu structures meals around fresh and minimally processed foods and limited added salt. This guide explains what the low sodium diet is, how it works, what to eat and avoid, potential benefits and risks, and a sample low sodium diet menu day. This page is for education only. Your doctor or dietitian will set your sodium target and tailor advice to your health.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for education only and does not replace advice from your doctor or dietitian. If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, or other conditions, your healthcare team will set your sodium limit and may give you a specific low sodium diet menu or plan. Do not change your diet or medication based on this article alone.
Below: what a low sodium diet and low salt diet are, how they work, what to eat and avoid (with a table), benefits and risks, a sample low sodium diet menu day, and answers to common questions. You can use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator with your healthcare team if you have a weight or calorie goal.
What is the low sodium diet?
A low sodium diet (or low salt diet) limits the amount of sodium you eat each day. Sodium is found in table salt (sodium chloride) and in many processed and packaged foods. Guidelines often recommend:
- General population: No more than 2,300 mg sodium per day (about 6 g salt).
- Stricter target (e.g. high blood pressure, heart failure): 1,500 mg sodium per day or as your doctor advises.
A low sodium diet menu plans meals and snacks so that daily sodium stays within your target. The DASH diet is a well-known eating pattern that is low in sodium and rich in potassium, and is often recommended for blood pressure. The same principles apply to a low salt diet for heart health–see our heart-healthy diet guide. If you have kidney disease, your doctor or dietitian may recommend a renal (kidney) diet that includes sodium limits. There are no phases; you follow the low sodium diet and low sodium diet menu approach ongoing unless your healthcare team says otherwise.
Core principles
- Limit added salt at the table and in cooking.
- Choose fresh or minimally processed foods; check labels for sodium (salt) content.
- Use herbs, spices, lemon, and vinegar for flavour instead of salt.
How the low sodium diet works
Reducing sodium can help lower blood pressure in many people and may reduce fluid retention, which is important in heart failure and some kidney conditions. A low sodium diet or low salt diet works by keeping daily sodium intake below your target so that the body holds less excess fluid and blood pressure is less likely to rise. It is often combined with eating more potassium-rich foods (vegetables, fruits) as in the DASH diet. There are no phases–you follow your low sodium diet menu and target every day. If you also need to lose weight (e.g. for blood pressure), you can combine a low sodium diet with a moderate calorie deficit; use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator with your doctor’s or dietitian’s guidance.
What to eat and what to limit
The table below is a general guide for a low sodium diet and low salt diet. Your doctor or dietitian may give you a different target or list (e.g. for heart failure or kidney disease).
| Eat (low sodium diet) | Choose low-sodium versions or use sparingly | Limit or avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh vegetables and fruits | Bread (check label for sodium); tinned beans (rinse or choose no-added-salt) | Table salt, sea salt, rock salt, salty seasonings |
| Fresh or frozen meat, poultry, fish (without added salt) | Tinned tomatoes, passata (low-sodium); cheese (small amounts, check label) | Processed meats (bacon, ham, sausages, salami) |
| Eggs, pulses (cooked without salt), unsalted nuts | Sauces (choose reduced-sodium or use small amounts) | Tinned soups, ready meals, instant noodles, stock cubes |
| Wholegrains (plain rice, pasta, oats) cooked without added salt | – | Soy sauce, fish sauce, pickles, olives, salted snacks, many takeaways |
Check food labels: “sodium” is often given in mg per 100 g or per portion. Roughly, 1 g salt ≈ 400 mg sodium. A low sodium diet menu uses these choices to build meals that stay within your daily target.
Potential benefits (with caveats)
Benefits are described in general terms–individual results vary. This is not medical advice.
- Blood pressure: A low sodium diet or low salt diet can help lower blood pressure in many people, especially when combined with more potassium-rich foods (as in the DASH diet).
- Heart failure and fluid retention: Reducing sodium may help control fluid retention and symptoms in some people with heart failure, when recommended by their doctor.
- General health: Eating less processed food and more fresh produce as part of a low sodium diet menu can improve overall diet quality.
Evidence: guidelines recommend limiting sodium for blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Your doctor will advise whether a low sodium diet is right for you and what target to aim for.
Risks and who should be cautious
A low sodium diet is generally safe when followed with professional advice. A few points:
- Very low sodium: Extremely low sodium (e.g. well below 1,500 mg) is not recommended for everyone and can be harmful in some conditions. Follow the target your doctor or dietitian sets.
- Medication: If you take diuretics or other blood pressure or heart medications, do not change your diet drastically without your doctor’s knowledge–fluid and electrolyte balance can be affected.
- Other conditions: If you have kidney disease or heart failure, your low sodium diet menu may need to be tailored (e.g. fluid or potassium limits too). Work with your healthcare team.
Before starting a low sodium or low salt diet, speak to your doctor or dietitian.
Sample low sodium diet menu day
This is one example of a low sodium diet menu day–not a prescriptive plan. Sodium content will depend on brands and portions; your dietitian can give you a detailed menu and target.
- Breakfast: Porridge made with milk or water (no added salt), banana, and a few unsalted nuts. Or eggs (no added salt) with wholegrain toast (low-sodium bread) and fruit.
- Lunch: Salad with chickpeas (tinned, rinsed), grilled chicken, olive oil and lemon or vinegar. Wholegrain bread (check label). Fresh fruit. Avoid ready-made dressings high in sodium.
- Dinner: Baked fish or chicken with herbs (e.g. rosemary, thyme), steamed vegetables, and rice or potato (cooked without salt). Use herbs, garlic (fresh), and lemon instead of salt.
- Snacks: Fresh fruit, unsalted nuts, plain yogurt, vegetable sticks. Avoid salted crackers, crisps, and processed snacks.
Cook from scratch where possible and taste before adding salt. For more ideas, see our DASH diet and heart-healthy diet guides–both support a low salt diet. If you need to lose weight, use our calorie deficit calculator and TDEE calculator with your doctor’s or dietitian’s approval.
Frequently asked questions
A low sodium diet (or low salt diet) is an eating pattern that limits sodium intake, often to around 2,300 mg per day or less (e.g. 1,500 mg for stricter targets). It is recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, or other conditions where reducing sodium may help. A low sodium diet menu structures meals around fresh and minimally processed foods and limited added salt.
A low salt diet is the same as a low sodium diet–it limits the amount of sodium (salt) you eat. Table salt is sodium chloride, so reducing salt and avoiding high-sodium processed foods are key. Guidelines often recommend under 2,300 mg sodium per day, or 1,500 mg for stricter targets. Your doctor or dietitian can set your target.
You can eat fresh vegetables and fruits, wholegrains, lean meat and fish (without added salt), eggs, pulses, and unsalted nuts. Use herbs and spices instead of salt. Choose low-sodium or no-added-salt versions of bread, tinned foods, and sauces. See the article table and the low sodium diet menu example above.
Limit or avoid: table salt and salty seasonings, processed meats (bacon, ham, sausages), tinned soups and ready meals, soy sauce and other high-sodium sauces, pickled foods, many cheeses and salted snacks. Check labels for sodium content. Your doctor or dietitian can give you a personalised list.
A low sodium diet menu is a daily or weekly plan of meals that stay within your sodium target. It typically includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks made from fresh or minimally processed ingredients with little or no added salt. See the sample day in the article for ideas; your dietitian can tailor a full menu.
Yes. A low sodium diet does not restrict calories unless your doctor advises weight loss. You can use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator to maintain weight or to create a moderate deficit with our calorie deficit calculator if your doctor recommends weight loss (e.g. for blood pressure). Always follow your healthcare team’s advice.
Summary
A low sodium diet (or low salt diet) limits sodium to support blood pressure and, when advised, heart or kidney health. A low sodium diet menu plans meals around fresh and minimally processed foods and limited added salt. Targets are often 2,300 mg or 1,500 mg sodium per day–your doctor or dietitian will set yours. This page is for education only; follow your healthcare team’s advice. See our DASH diet, heart-healthy diet, and renal diet guides for related reading. Use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator if you are also managing weight with your doctor’s or dietitian’s guidance.
Use our calculators with this diet
Set your calorie target and plan meals with our free tools.
You might also like
Other diet guides that may fit your goals.
DASH diet
Low sodium, plenty of potassium. Designed to support healthy blood pressure.
Heart-healthy & cholesterol diet
Limits saturated fat and sodium; supports heart and cholesterol.
Renal (kidney) diet
Controls sodium, potassium, phosphorus for kidney disease. Needs dietitian.
Mediterranean diet
Plant-forward eating with olive oil, fish and vegetables. Often recommended for heart health.
Sources and further reading
This article is based on current guidance. For more detail, see:
- National and international guidelines on sodium intake (e.g. WHO, AHA, NICE)
- DASH diet and blood pressure guidelines
- Heart failure and kidney disease dietary guidance (sodium and fluid)
Last updated: 20 February 2026. Content is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical or dietetic advice. Your doctor or dietitian will set your sodium target.