Low-salt (low-sodium) foods are recommended for
people with
heart failure.
The basic foods from the
food guide pyramid 
are preferred if they are prepared without salt. They
include:
- Milk.
- Uncured
meats.
- Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
- Breads
and grains.
High-sodium foods should be avoided. Examples of foods typically high
in sodium include:
- Smoked, cured, salted, and canned meat, fish, and
poultry.
- Ham, bacon, hot dogs, and luncheon
meats.
- Regular hard and processed cheese and regular peanut
butter.
- Crackers with salted tops.
- Frozen prepared
meals.
- Regular canned and dehydrated soups, broths, and
bouillon.
- Regular canned vegetables.
- Salted snack foods
such as chips.
- French fries, pizza, tacos, and other fast
foods.
- Pickles, sauerkraut, seasonings high in salt, ketchup, and
other condiments, especially soy sauce.
Food from restaurants can be very high in sodium, especially fast
food and Chinese food.
Organizations such as the American Heart Association have pamphlets
and other publications that can help you maintain a low-sodium diet. For
contact information, see the Other Places to Get Help section of the topic
Heart Failure.
