Ménière's disease: Eating a low-salt diet
Why should you follow a low-salt diet?
Many of us like to use table salt because it adds flavor to the foods we eat. But salt contains a lot of sodium: 1 teaspoon of salt contains 2 g (2,000 mg) of sodium. This amount almost meets the recommended U.S. daily value for sodium, which is 2,300 mg. Sodium is also found in many prepared foods, both for flavor and for preservation. Evidence exists for restricting sodium intake to 1,000 mg a day for Ménière's disease.
It is well worth the effort for those with Ménière's disease to know how much salt food contains and to limit its intake.
- Episodes of vertigo can be severe, and eating less salt may reduce their frequency.
- Because you may experience fewer episodes of vertigo, you may reduce your risk for falls and injuries.
- Fewer episodes of vertigo may also reduce problems with balance. This is because the more vertigo episodes you have, the weaker your inner ear becomes. A weak inner ear contributes to poor balance.
- Fewer episodes of vertigo means a better quality of life due to less risk of falling.
Test Your Knowledge
Those with Ménière's disease should limit sodium intake to:
Fewer episodes of vertigo means:
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How do you limit the salt in your diet?
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| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: October 20, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology | |
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