Moderate in salt

If you are a fan of instant noodles and soup, beware: they have too much sodium - a substance that, in excess, becomes an enemy of the heart (and the flat stomach!). So, moderate consumption and read the label, as some brands have seven times more sodium than others. The good news: by definition of the Ministry of Health, manufacturers have until 2014 to reduce this item of instant products and 15 other food categories, such as corn chips, potato chips and stuffed cookies. But, right now, you can save on table salt. “Two grams of this spice (the equivalent of a coffee spoon) has about 400 milligrams of sodium (almost 1/5 of the maximum daily dose for a healthy adult)”, says Roseli Rossi, nutritionist at Clínica Equilíbrio Nutricional, in São Paulo . Adhering to light salt and herbs can help you in this quest.