Should I avoid salt while I'm pregnant?

While your mother and grandmother were no doubt told that salt was a no-no for pregnant women, the medical establishment's take on this issue has changed considerably over the years. While it was once believed that restricting salt intake would help to reduce water retention during pregnancy, we now know that doing so can actually make water retention worse.

Of course, some women still need to reduce their salt intake during pregnancy. If you have high blood pressure, you've developed edema (water retention), or you suffer from certain types of kidney diseases, your doctor or midwife may advise you to avoid highly salted foods and to avoid adding additional salt to your foods for the duration of your pregnancy.