9 Be stingy with salt
To keep your blood pressure under control, and therefore lower your risk of heart disease, limit yourself to about half a teaspoon of salt a day, the AHA advises.
Even though many foods naturally contain salt, up to 75% of the salt in the typical American diet comes from processed foods—everything from soups to salad dressings. The ADA recommends choosing foods without added salt, and preparing home-cooked meals with little or no salt.
