Then why don’t you marry it?

All joking aside, there’s no denying that Americans consume more than our fair share of sodium during our daily meals. According to the American Heart Association, the average American consumes nearly 3,500 mg of sodium per day – more than two times the recommended amount.

Though salt may add a satisfying flavor to our favorite snacks, all that sodium doesn’t come without a few consequences. One of the major effects of sodium on our health is high blood pressure. Extra sodium in our bloodstreams draws extra water into our blood, increasing the total amount of blood inside our vessels. Over time, this increased pressure may overstretch or damage the blood vessel walls and speed up the accumulation of plaque. All this extra pressure also creates an additional strain on the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body.

Give your heart a break during Heart Health Month and clean up your salt intake fast with just a few of these easy-to-follow tips.

Add color to your diet

If you’re looking to banish the salt from your diet, a great place to start is to add vegetables to your favorite recipes. Instead of cutting out your morning omelet from your breakfast routine, simply start replacing the processed meats or cheeses in your recipe with a few colorful veggies instead. Or – replace that side of bacon with a side of fresh fruit.

Satisfy your sweet tooth

We know what you’re thinking – and unfortunately sugar isn’t the answer to reducing the amount of sodium in your daily diet. However, fruit works wonders for cutting both sodium and refined sugar from your diet while also satisfying your cravings for something sweet!

Cook at home

Sometimes the easiest way to know how much sodium is in your food is to prepare it yourself. So bust out your apron and chef hat – and get cooking with fresh ingredients. Just because salt isn’t on the menu doesn’t mean that you can’t add extra flavor with herbs, spices and vinegar. Get creative and you’re sure to find new favorite recipes in no time!

Read Your Labels

If you’re not prepared to give up some of your prepackaged favorites, that’s OK! When you’re reaching for your next snack, be sure to read your labels and compare the amount of sodium in each serving. If you think your intake is getting a little high for the day, it may be wise to choose another snack.

Taking a step back from salt can be a little tricky – but if you make the commitment, your heart will thank you! Do you have a favorite low-sodium recipe, or a trick to slashing the salt that we missed? Share it with us below!