When it comes to south Louisiana, we are fanatic about our food.
Taste is something we pride ourselves on.
One of the main ingredients we use to season our food is salt.
But, salt is not always the best way to bring out the best in food or our health.
You may not be aware that all the salt we need each day is the equivalent of a teaspoon.
However, excess salt is something we can't seem to get away from.
If you've ever read the nutritional information on a cheeseburger or fries, you might faint.
You can get half of your daily salt intake in one box of small fries.
Processed frozen foods are also laden with salt.
Make it a habit to read labels from now on and you will find a lot of useful information there.
If the total salt is given in grams, simply add three zeros to the number and you will find out the sodium content in milligrams.
So, why is excess salt bad for us? Increased salt intake can raise your blood pressure.
That means your heart will have to pump harder to pass blood throughout your body.
This higher flow can lead to a stroke or heart attack if you have clogged arteries and high cholesterol.
Salt can also make us retain water, resulting in swollen hands and feet.
If you have ever eaten a meal and then had trouble getting your ring off later, you know what I'm talking about.
No one wants to look more bloated, right? Here are some steps you can take to reduce your salt intake:

• Reduce the amount of fast foods that you eat - It goes without saying that if you want to burn fat, you should avoid eating out as much as possible.
  Additionally, you can reduce your daily salt intake by about 80 percent if you avoid fast food.
  Restaurants season their food before it gets to you and you have no control of the amount of salt that goes into your food.
  
• Don't season with salt - Instead of using more salt, opt for other spices that add a kick to the dish: cumin, curry, red pepper, thyme, lemon pepper, and oregano are my personal favorites.
  
• Cook your own food - Even frozen foods contain salt.
  For canned vegetables, rinse them off and then simmer in water instead of the juice in the can.
  Use low-sodium broth to flavor rice and vegetables instead of salty sauces and gravies.
  

Just a few simple modifications can reduce your salt intake and lead to great improvements in your health.
Your cholesterol and blood pressure will be lower, and you will look leaner and feel better.