Definition

Noun: A low-sodium diet is a structured eating plan that restricts the consumption of salt, specifically sodium chloride. It is frequently prescribed as a medical nutrition therapy to help manage conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), edema (fluid retention), and certain other disorders.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical, nutritional, and health-conscious contexts. It describes a dietary regimen, not a single meal or food item. It is often recommended by healthcare professionals.

Examples

• Following a low-sodium diet is crucial for managing her hypertension.
• The doctor put him on a low-sodium diet to reduce the swelling in his legs.
• Processed foods are generally avoided on a strict low-sodium diet.

Advanced Usage

• The concept is often quantified in medical settings, e.g., "a 2-gram sodium diet."
• It is a key component of dietary approaches to stop hypertension, commonly known as the DASH diet.

Variants and Related Words

• Salt-free diet: A more restrictive term often used interchangeably, though "low-sodium" implies reduction, not total elimination.
• Sodium-restricted diet: A formal, clinical synonym.
• Hypertension diet: A related term highlighting the primary condition it treats.

Synonyms

• Salt-restricted diet
• Sodium-controlled diet

Antonyms

• High-sodium diet
• Unrestricted diet

Related Phrases

• To be on a low-sodium diet: The common phrasing for following this plan.
  • Since his diagnosis, he has been on a low-sodium diet.
• To adhere to a low-sodium diet: A more formal way to describe compliance.
  • Successful management requires adhering to the low-sodium diet.

Noun

1. a diet that limits the intake of salt (sodium chloride); often used in treating hypertension or edema or certain other disorders