Salt causes the body to retain fluid, which increases the heart's workload.
Simply remove the salt shaker from the kitchen table and stovetop to avoid cooking with salt or using it at meals. Use salt-free seasonings instead. Drain and rinse canned foods before preparing them to remove some of the salt. To reduce fat intake, substitute nonfat milk and low-fat frozen yogurt for whole milk, cream and ice cream. To make meat dishes healthier, trim all visible fat from cuts of beef and pork, and remove the skin from chicken and turkey.