How to Reduce Your Salt Intake

NEW YORK — Shaking the salt habit is tough but medical reasons justify the effort.

According to Family Circle magazine, a taste for salt is acquired and with help from the following tips, you can retrain your palette to like less of it:

--Cut the salt in recipes by half or leave it out entirely.

--Experiment with herbs, spices and other seasonings in place of salt.

--Wash away salt. You can reduce the salt content of canned items with a quick rinse under cold water.

--Eat potassium-rich foods such as oranges, orange juice, bananas, mangoes, dried fruits, cantaloupe, dried peas and beans. These increase sodium excretion.