How to Find the Best Low Sodium Meal Replacement Shakes

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Certified Nutrition Coach’s guide on how to find the best low sodium meal replacement shakes.

Discover how to meet your nutritional needs on a low sodium diet.

Last Updated
Jul 21, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, CNC

Jack is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before making changes to your diet.

Low Sodium Meal Replacement Shakes

Which Meal Replacement Shakes Are Low in Sodium?

If you are on a low sodium diet, I recommend meal replacements made from nut or hemp-based protein.

Unlike peas, rice, and soy, nuts and hemp are not processed using salt.

As a result, they tend to be much lower in sodium.

If you cannot eat nuts, you may want to consider a meal replacement made from animal-based protein.

Animal-based proteins tend to contain a moderate amount of sodium, but some options are relatively low in sodium.

Bovine collagen, for example, is often appropriate for a low sodium diet.

Keep in mind that what you mix your meal replacement with can add a meaningful amount of sodium.

One serving of cow’s milk or plant milk, for instance, can add 100 or more milligrams of sodium to your shake.

If this is a concern for you, consider mixing your meal replacement powder with water.

What Are the Benefits of Low Sodium Meal Replacement Shakes?

For some people, consuming less sodium could support better overall health.

The benefits depend on your individual health and sodium needs, but might include:

1. Blood Pressure Management: A lower salt intake might help lower blood pressure, which could reduce the risk of high blood pressure and related heart and blood vessel problems.
2. Improved Heart Health: A diet lower in salt might reduce strain on the heart and blood vessels, which could lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
3. Improved Kidney Health: Reducing salt intake might ease the workload on the kidneys, which could help reduce the risk of kidney stones.
4. Less Water Retention: Lower salt levels in the body might decrease bloating and water retention, which could help you feel more comfortable.

In short, adding a low sodium meal replacement shake to your diet could help you meet your nutritional needs while limiting your sodium intake, which might support your overall health depending on your individual needs.

What Are the Best Low Sodium Meal Replacement Shakes?

Not all low sodium meal replacement shakes are created equal.

Many low sodium options contain ultra-processed ingredients that might contribute to uncomfortable side effects and, in some cases, long-term health problems.

Among the most problematic ones are food additives and protein concentrates and isolates.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners, and other ultra-processed additives might upset your stomach.

It could also alter the function and composition of your gut microbiome, the community of microbes that live in your digestive tract (North Clin Istanb, 2020).

These shifts, known as gut dysbiosis, have been linked to the development of several chronic conditions, including heart disease and high blood pressure (Int J Mol Sci, 2023; Hypertension, 2015).

More research is needed to clarify these relationships.

But if you are on a low sodium diet due to a medical condition, you might want to think twice before regularly consuming ultra-processed food additives.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you could not find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it is likely a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid protein concentrates and isolates.

Most meal replacements are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

You therefore might not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

For example, one study shows that regularly consuming protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome (Nutrients, 2018).

Another study shows that it could cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

Although further research is needed, individuals with sensitive stomachs can play it safe by choosing meal replacements made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds.

They might be more gut-friendly.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

What Does Low Sodium Mean?

Though the words “salt” and “sodium” are often used interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing.

Salt (sodium chloride) is a naturally-occurring compound.

Sodium, on the other hand, is a mineral and one of the constituents of salt.

It helps your body maintain fluid and blood volume, and plays an important role in muscle and nerve function.

The amount of sodium needed by the body is actually relatively small, and most Americans consume far too much.

Americans eat, on average, about 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day – or 5+ teaspoons of salt – which is about 20 times as much as the body needs.

Although sodium is naturally occurring in many foods, most of the sodium that Americans eat comes from packaged, processed, store-bought, and restaurant foods.

You can find the sodium content on the Nutrition Facts label, which is usually printed on the back or side panel of the packaging.

It lists how many milligrams of sodium are in each serving.

The Nutrition Facts panel also lists the percent Daily Value (DV), which tells you whether one serving contributes a little or a lot to your recommended daily sodium intake.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 5% DV or less of sodium per serving is considered low, and 20% DV or more of sodium per serving is considered high.

A “low sodium” food contains 140 milligrams of sodium or less per serving.

When Should I Be on a Low Sodium Diet?

A low sodium diet is not right for everyone.

Whether it is right for you depends on several factors, and you should work with a healthcare professional to decide.

Medical conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and kidney disease might require a low sodium diet.

A family history of high blood pressure or heart disease is another reason to consider a low sodium diet.

Consulting a healthcare professional for personalized guidance is essential for determining whether a low sodium diet aligns with your health goals and needs.

They can provide regular blood pressure monitoring and electrolyte panels to help you keep track of your cardiovascular health and sodium levels.

1. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2020.
2. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Int J Mol Sci). Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease: Evidence on the Metabolic and Inflammatory Background of a Complex Relationship. 2023.
3. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) (Hypertension). Gut dysbiosis is linked to hypertension. 2015.
4. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
5. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.

Editorial Guidelines

---

This article was written by a Certified Nutrition Coach and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.