Patients with Heart Failure Actually Suffer from Low Sodium Diet

It's no secret that most people eat too much sodium. Pizza, burgers, fries, canned soups, and processed foods are loaded with added sodium.

The average American consumes more than 3,500 mg of sodium a day. But the American Heart Association recommends 2,300 mg of sodium a day for most people. And there's the people with heart disease or some other risk factor. The AHA recommends this group get less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day.

But how low is too low? In a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers found that people living with heart failure who followed a low-sodium diet were more likely to die than those with heart failure who didn't stick to the low-sodium guidelines.

In fact, heart failure patients who stuck with a low-sodium diet were 42 percent more likely to die or require hospitalization during the three year study. It's no secret that too much sodium in your diet raises blood pressure, increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems.

But with this specific group of people, health professionals believe it may be time to look a little closer at sodium recommendations for people living with heart failure. If you're currently living with heart failure, talk to your doctor about this study. You may find some wiggle room for the amount of sodium-you can consume per day, and be able to enjoy some foods that have been off limits.

However, looking for ways to cut back on sodium is a good idea for most people. And it's not that hard. Eat more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and legumes. And eat less processed food that's canned, packaged, or preserved with added sodium, including low sodium frozen dinners from our menu.