31 Days of Latinas losing weight: Tip #11

Do you realize that we're 1/3 of the way through our 31 Days of Latinas Losing Weight challenge?! I know it's Friday and you might be thinking: "TGIF! I don't care about my diet!" Well, don't lose sight of what you're trying to accomplish. Let's stick to it! We can do this together and you can lose weight with Tip #11. 

Readmore ¿Qué más? 31 Days of Latinas losing weight: Tip #10

For today's tip, here's what we're going to do: cut the sodium!

That's right, cutting the salt in your diet is going to help you lose weight since salt makes you retain water (which makes you look "plumper") and consuming too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure which, in turn, can lead to stroke and heart disease. 

More than that, since about 3/4 of the sodium in our diets comes from processed foods, you'll be doing your body a big favor by trying to cut most of those out, too.

At the very least, I make it a rule to buy low sodium products. Although I'm not completely afraid of salt and definitely appreciate the fact that it brings out flavor in food, I'm also a big believer in not abusing it. Instead, opt to flavor your foods with other seasonings like adobo and your favorite Latin spices. 

So, when you're cooking at home, keep this in mind and just cut the salt (like with these recipes). You should also aim to eat less sodium at restaurants. Keep this going and you'll see yourself dropping the pounds soon. And don't forget to come back for Tip #12 tomorrow! 

Image via Corbis