Lower your salt intake
Heart failure causes your body to retain water and salt.
When you limit the amount of salt that you eat you can get
rid off extra fluid and reduce swelling of your ankles, feet,
and/or stomach. Avoid products high in salt such as
cheese, cold cuts, sausages, hams, canned soups, frozen
meals, and ketchup. Read the food labels to check for
sodium (salt) content.
Remove the salt shaker from your table and use herbs and
other seasonings instead of salt. Keep your daily sodium
intake under 3000 mg (3 grams) which is about the same
as a teaspoon of salt. If you use salt substitutes check that
they are not high in potassium.
If your heart failure is worsening your doctor may ask you
to limit your fluid intake and you should not drink more than
1.5 to 2 liters per day3.