Frequently Asked Questions
By Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
November 2007
Q: I was recently instructed by my physician to limit my sodium intake. Are there cheeses that are low in sodium for persons with hypertension (high blood pressure) and/or heart disease?
A: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 25 million Americans have heart disease and about 30 percent of America’s population is hypertensive. Many of these individuals are sodium sensitive, and reducing sodium may help lower their blood pressure and help with fluid balance. While the National Academy of Sciences’ current upper level of sodium for healthy Americans is set at 2,300 milligrams per day, your health care provider has most likely instructed you to take in a much lower amount.
Making a substantial shift downward in sodium intake can be challenging as many foods in the supermarket contain very high amounts. Even healthy foods, like whole grain cereals and breads, can contain up to 500 milligrams of sodium per serving. Fortunately, many food manufacturers are offering reduced-sodium items; read package nutrition labels to compare regular and low-sodium foods.
There are many lowfat cheeses available, and low-sodium varieties are now arriving in the dairy and deli case. Since Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association does not represent or endorse any specific brands of dairy (including cheese), we suggest you visit the following company Web sites for information on their low sodium cheeses:
Another useful Web site for low-salt dairy is LowSaltFoods.com.
There’s also another nutrition approach that has helped many people with high blood pressure called the DASH diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
This eating plan, supported by the National Institutes of Health, recommends plenty of fruits, vegetables and lowfat dairy. These foods contain three minerals — calcium (from dairy foods and some vegetables), potassium (from dairy, fruits and vegetables) and magnesium (from fruits and vegetables) — that have been found to work together to lower blood pressure. A registered dietitian can help you set up this eating plan (your doctor may be able to refer you to one). Learn more about the DASH diet.