People have been adding salt to their salads for thousands of years. In fact, salad gets its name from the Latin phrase herba salata, which means "salted vegetables." Despite this long history, we should aim to minimize the salt in our salads. Here are five flavorful, low-sodium ways to top your salads:

1. Greek yogurt. For a creamy dressing with only 56 mg of sodium, combine two tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt with one teaspoon of crumbled feta cheese. Stir in one tablespoon of chopped, fresh dill. For a thinner dressing, add one teaspoon of buttermilk for an additional 5 mg of sodium. Calories: 32 with buttermilk

2. Fresh herbs. Herbs add so many flavors to a dressing that you will never miss the sodium. Combine one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, one teaspoon of white wine vinegar, and a tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and rosemary. The result is a flavorful dressing with fewer than 5 mg of sodium. Calories: 121

3. Balsamic vinegar and berries. This dressing contains fewer than 5 mg of sodium. Smash two tablespoons of berries with a fork. Add one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. Calories: 98

4. Citrus fruits. Combine the juice of half of an orange, two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and dress your salad with fewer than 5 mg of sodium. Lemon or lime juice also makes a delicious, slightly tart substitute for the orange. Calories: 93

5. Honey and mustard. It is possible to have your favorite honey mustard combination in a salad dressing with only 120 mg of sodium. Stir together one teaspoon of Dijon mustard, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon of honey, and two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. Calories: 106

• Sodium Fact Sheet

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.