10 Tips to Reduce Salt in Eastern Asian Diets

Dietitian tips to lower salt in Eastern Asian dishes 

By Mimi Huang, BSc. 

Reviewed by Amy Yiu, B.Sc., RD  

If you love the bold, savoury flavours of Eastern Asian cooking, from soy sauce and hot pot to marinated tofu and salty snacks, you’re not alone. But many of these beloved dishes and ingredients can pack in more sodium than you’d expect, which may raise your risk of high blood pressure over time. The good news is you don’t have to give up the foods you love to eat less salt. With a few simple swaps and cooking tips, you can keep the flavour while supporting your heart health.

Key Takeaways

• Most Canadians eat far more sodium than they need, and Eastern Asian diets often include extra sodium from sauces, preserved foods, and eating out.
• Healthy adults need about 1500 mg of sodium a day, while people with hypertension should aim for under 2000 mg.
• Small swaps, like using less sauce, adding flavour with herbs and citrus, and choosing fresh or frozen produce, can lower sodium without losing the tastes you love.
• You don’t have to cut out salty foods completely. The goal is enjoying them in balance, not perfection.
• A Registered Dietitian can help you build a plan that fits your taste, culture, and lifestyle.

What is high blood pressure (hypertension)? 

Hypertension refers to blood pressure above normal levels. For most people, the healthy range is 120/80. Higher readings represent greater strain on blood arteries as blood is pumped through. Constant strain can cause damage to arteries, thus increasing the risk for stroke and heart disease. For people with diabetes, hypertension increases the risk for stroke and heart disease by four-fold.  

What is the guideline/recommendation?  

Sodium plays important roles in the body, so 1500 mg sodium (3 mg salt) is needed per day for healthy adults. People with hypertension should eat less than 2000 mg (4 mg salt) per day.  

Most Canadians consume 3400 mg of sodium per day, so decreasing sodium intake is recommended for healthy people as well as people with hypertension and/or diabetes. 

These are other contributing factors and recommendations: 

• Exercise regularly.  
• Manage stress.  
• Eat a low-sodium diet.  
• Exercise regularly. Strive for 10,000 steps per day and 150 minutes per week of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity.  
• Quit smoking if you smoke. 
• Drink less alcohol if you drink.  

The body retains most of the sodium from foods. The most effective way to reduce the body’s sodium levels is by eating less salt.  

1. Buy fresh produce from farmers’ markets if available or grocery stores. Fresh, local produce is more delicious, less bitter, and more nutritious, so no extra salt is needed to add flavour.  
   • Find out what is in season where you’re from (BC and Alberta).  
   • Find farms near you.  
   • Grow your own vegetable garden. 
   • Choose baby vegetables (e.g., yu choy, gai lan, yukon gold potatoes) for sweetness and pleasant mouthfeel. 
2. Buy frozen or canned foods that are out of season (e.g., peas, corn, carrots, tomatoes). Frozen and canned foods are picked at peak ripeness, so they are often healthier and more delicious than imported produce. 
3. Use food labels to choose options lower in sodium. Less than 5% is a little, while more than 15% is a lot. 
4. Buy fewer snacks. Eat a few hours before grocery shopping to avoid impulse shopping. Start by buying half of what you usually buy or only your favourite snacks. Alternatively, stop buying snacks so you can slowly finish what is already at home. 
5. Use less sauce or salt when cooking. If you regularly eat salty foods, the sodium receptors on your taste buds likely become less sensitive to sodium. Allow your taste bud receptors to reset by reducing or cutting salt from your cooking for 10 days.  
   • Examples: 
     • Cook noodles without salt 
     • Only add salt at the end of cooking if needed.  
     • Prepare soups without salt.  
     • Add flavour using herbs and spices, garlic, onion, or lemon/lime. 
6. Choose less processed versions of foods you enjoy. Experiment with recipes that do not require lots of salt to be satisfying. 
   • Examples: 
     • Firm tofu for soups and stir fries.  
     • Baby potatoes for roasting or stir frying. 
     • Raw chicken breast for air frying or baking. 
     • Try different herbal soup recipes. 
7. When eating out, choose less salty options and balance with no-sodium foods.  
   • Examples: 
     • Steamed yu choy with congee instead of siu mai.  
     • Cup of tea or soy milk with buns instead of salty soups.  
     • Salad with a burger instead of fries.
8. Incorporate more vegetables and fruits into your diet. Instead of snacking on chips or sweets, prepare your favourite vegetables and fruits. Do not skip meals and eat meals at the same times every day to avoid snacking in between meals. 
9. Drink more water. Keep water nearby so you can easily drink water whenever you feel thirsty. 
10. Be open to having salty foods sometimes. You can only control so much in life, so enjoy salty foods sometimes. After all, the goal is to eat less salt overall not cut it out completely.

Sodium content in Eastern Asian diets 

1. Cooking Sauces (e.g., soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili sauce, black bean sauce, fish sauce)  
   • Note: low sodium (e.g., low sodium soy sauce) refers to the lower sodium version of the regular product, so the product may still contain lots of sodium. Eat less of the foods that contain more than 15% daily value sodium per serving.  
2. Ultra-processed foods (e.g., chips and crackers, breads, instant noodles, preserved vegetables or meats, canned soups)  
3. Salty prepared foods (e.g., BBQ pork, marinated tofu, fermented foods)  
4. Foods with “hidden” salt (e.g., breads, noodles) 
5. Eating out (e.g., restaurants, fast food, parties, and sometimes relatives’ homes!) 

Note: there is no difference between table salt, sea salt, kosher salt, and pink/Himalayan salt in terms of sodium content and impact on health.  

Small, doable changes now can support your health for the long run.

• Eat a balanced diet with variety and check nutrition fact labels. Avoid food that contains more than 15% daily value sodium per serving. 
• Move toward your personal best weight
• Self-monitor your blood pressure and sodium intake regularly, especially if you have hypertension.  
• Lead a healthy lifestyle that minimizes stress and prioritizes healthy eating, regular exercise, and good sleep.  

References: 

1. Heart & Stroke – High Blood Pressure
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine – Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
3. Unlock Food – Cut out the Salt
4. Taste bud contains both short-lived and long-lived cell populations
5. American Health Association – High Blood Pressure

Looking for more support with healthy eating for Hypertension prevention?

Don’t go through this journey alone, reach out to one of our Dietitians for support to have all the keys to success! 

Find the right Hypertension Dietitian for you to help prevent chronic illness by contacting us today!

Also, subscribe to our weekly newsletter to never miss out on any tips, advice, and recipes!

Check out these related blogs on our website: