• We recommend that you limit salt in your diet
• This is important because even normal amounts of salt makes your body retain fluid
• The dietitian will talk to you about a low salt diet
• Avoid salty foods
• When eating out, ask that your food be made without adding salt
• Avoid adding salt when cooking or at the table
• Eat a balanced diet
• Read food labels to avoid hidden salt

Foods to Avoid

• TV dinners, canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, bouillon
• Boxed dinners, like Hamburger Helper
• Sauerkraut, pickles, olives, salted nuts
• Cured meats, such as bacon, hot dogs, cold cuts, and cheeses
• Chips, pretzels
• Mexican or Oriental foods

Low Salt Foods

• Fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables
• Fresh meats, chicken, turkey, fish
• Unsalted crackers, chips, pretzels
• Season your foods with herbs and spices, lemon, or vinegar

Our dietitians can help you with ideas to lower salt in your recipes, for adding flavor to your food without salt, for shopping and reading food labels.

Keeping Track of Fluids

• It is important to limit the amount of water and other liquids that you drink.
• This is important because it is hard for the heart to handle a lot of fluids.
• It is helpful to keep track of the fluids that you drink.

Your limit for fluids will be taught to you. This means we will give you an amount of fluid that we advise you limit yourself to in 24 hours. For example 2 liters (quarts) in 24 hours.

Thirst Tips
Your body may respond to heart failure by making you thirsty. Here are some tips to help with your thirst.

• Popsicles
• Ice chips
• Gum or hard candy
• Frozen grapes
• Avoid drinking fountains, it is hard to measure the amount you drink
• Freeze a bottle of water, about 1 cup (8 ounces) and drink it slowly as it melts