Heather K. Jones - The Salt Solution Diet: Break Your Salt Addiction So You Can Lose Weight, Get Your Energy Back, and Live Longer!

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S ALT. IT SEEMS HARMLESS ENOUGH. Sprinkle a dash here and there for an extra kick. But this flavor boost comes at a high price. Though salt (sodium chloride) often gets ignored by dieters and healthy eaters, its actually one of the deadliest ingredients in the food supply. Yes, its true!

Most of us have heard that a high sodium intake raises blood pressure, which in turn can cause heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. But did you know that overdoing it on salt has also been linked to dementia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and cancer? Some more salty news: High sodium can add inches to your waist. Yup, salt can make you fat.

Elevated levels of salt in the diet come from calorie-packed, nutrient-poor processed foods, such as those found in fast food and on many restaurant menus, as well as packaged food in supermarkets. As our lives have become increasingly more hectic and fast paced, salty processed and fast foods have become staples. Thats not all. When you eat a lot of salt, it increases your thirst, especially for calorie-packed sodas. The bottom line: More salt equates to more calories, and this translates into higher numbers on the scale.

Unfortunately, most of us are seriously overdosing on sodium. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, recommend that adults in general should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per dayabout 1 teaspoon. Persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or who have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease should limit their daily sodium intake to only 1,500 milligrams. This was just revised from the previous recommendation of 2,300 milligrams because new research indicates that excess sodium is even more dangerous than previously thought. Instead, Americans on average consume 3,436 milligrams of sodium daily!

But you dont have to wait for regulations to kick in before taking charge of your healthand your waistline! Thats why weve created the Salt Solution Diet. Over the next 6 weeks, this healthy eating program will lower your salt intake while helping you shed pounds and improve your overall health and increase your energy. The best part? This simple plan shows you how to slash salt consumption without having to change your entire diet or sacrifice flavor and taste. The Salt Solution is about what you can eat as opposed to what you should not eat. The more than 80 recipes in this book are not only delicious and satisfying, but also feature the Salt Solution Stars, powerful foods packed with the Miracle Mineralspotassium, magnesium, and calciumthat together work to counteract the negative effects of sodium on your body.

Based on all the research we had unearthed linking sodium to obesity, hypertension, and many other health issues, we were confident that the Salt Solution would help people lose weight, lower their blood pressure, and improve their overall appearance, energy, and health. But of course a plan can deliver only if you follow it, so in order to make sure that our program is one that real men and women can fit into their busy lives, we asked 16 people to try it out. These dedicated men and women not only overcame their dangerous addiction to salt, they also lost pounds (up to almost 35 pounds in 6 weeks!) and inches (one woman lost 12 inches overall), increased energy, and gained confidence. Throughout this book youll find words of encouragement in the inspiring stories of the men and women who participated in our panel and found their way back to eating the (low-salt and unprocessed) way nature intended.

The Salt Solution eating plan has two phases. It kicks off with the 2-Week Salt Solution Cleanse, designed to boost metabolism, increase energy, and banish bloat. Once youve purified your system and reset your taste buds, youll start the 4-Week Shake the Salt Meal Plan. Both phases include lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and filling fiber. The goal throughout the plan is to keep your sodium level at no more than 1,500 milligrams per daythe amount recommended to reduce chronic disease risk and maintain optimum healthwhile boosting your levels of the three Miracle Minerals.

The entire program is designed to cater to your tastes by allowing you to mix and match the recipes. Love a recipe? You can repeat it. Youre also free to have a breakfast meal for dinner or even a lunch meal as a snack. Whatever works. Dont have time to cook every day? Learn smart strategies for eating out and choosing the best low-sodium (and minimally processed) packaged foods. This plan is really tailored for you, to fit your taste buds and needs.

Since eating well is only one component of living well, the Salt Solution also gives you tools to incorporate other healthy habits into your everyday life. Youll learn how to reduce stress to help you conquer salty cravings. Youll find grocery shopping and cooking tips and tricks to help you create mouth-watering low-sodium meals on your own. If youre ready to get moving, try our 6-week Salt Solution Weight-Loss Workout. This easy fitness program will magnify all the benefits of the eating plan so that you lose even more weight, improve your energy and self-confidence, and combat disease!

Your healthy ways shouldnt end once the next 6 weeks are over. Remember, this plan isnt just a passing fad. Its a healthy eating and living plan for life. The Salt Solution Diet has been specially designed to allow you to maintain these habits for a lifetime, with your taste buds on board. So are you ready to start slashing that saltand those pounds? Lets begin!

Obesity rates in the United States are rising rapidly. Today almost 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, and its become the single greatest threat to public health in this century. Besides cutting calories and fat and increasing exercise, theres another important piece of the weight-loss puzzle: sodium intake. How can this nutrient, which is essential for health and contains no calories by itself, cause you to gain weight? Lets take a look at exactly what sodium is, where its found, and the connection between sodium and obesity.

S OME SODIUM IS NECESSARY FOR HEALTH. This important mineral maintains the right balance of fluids in your body, helps transmit nerve impulses, and is important in muscle contraction and relaxation. Without sodium, you couldnt pick up your child, swim in a pool, or pull your hand away from a hot stove. Sodium is normally balanced with the help of your kidneys. If the sodium levels in your bloodstream are too low, your kidneys grab on to the salt that is present. When sodium levels are high, your kidneys excrete the excess in urine.