Salt addicts, going cold turkey. How did you do it?

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Replies

  • ABQsheila
    ABQsheila Posts: 46 Member
    I've done low salt for years now to varying degrees. I agree that eggs, tomatoes, and a few other things just "need" a bit of salt. Pepper and spicy things are great on eggs....a NM thing is green chile on eggs which is awesome. Lemon pepper (read ingredients because some have added salt) is wonderful on vegetables (try it on steamed broccoli) and added to soups or salads to brighten flavors. Other things like herbs and spices (curry, cumin, smoky paprika, cayenne), bitter and sour things (which I personally don't care for) and sugar all boost flavor.

    Cold turkey works but the first couple of weeks are tough. Tapering is also hard because it's really easy to stop the taper.

    Good luck!
  • broodmom
    broodmom Posts: 13
    I've never been a salt-a-holic like my teen son and husband, but I did add salt to a lot of stuff. My daughter is the one who got me off of it. She rarely adds salt to her cooking, instead using spices and herbs to jazz up her cooking, and I really didn't miss it over at her house. I tried that with my family and they didn't miss it that much, though they still add to their own food. I started buying salt substitute instead, which helps. (My son would salt sticks of salt if he could.) The nice thing is that now that I've made a point of going almost salt-free, my whole family isn't using as much salt, either.

    My daughter uses Mrs. Dash a lot for stuff like eggs and tomatoes, and swears by it. Hmmm, maybe I'll try that this week.
  • jenlipe
    jenlipe Posts: 54 Member
    Well, I not only survived my first endevor without salt but actually liked the switch. Threw some grape tomatoes and onion into my scrambled eggs along with a dash of Mrs Dash. Then topped it with salsa. Much to my surprise it was really good.

    Thanks, all for the suggestions.
  • yankeedownsouth
    yankeedownsouth Posts: 717 Member
    Well, I not only survived my first endevor without salt but actually liked the switch. Threw some grape tomatoes and onion into my scrambled eggs along with a dash of Mrs Dash. Then topped it with salsa. Much to my surprise it was really good.

    Thanks, all for the suggestions.

    Good for you! But be sure to check the salsa for sodium - it's often pretty high...
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I will still cook with it. And I eat lunch meat occasionally. I still get quite a bit of sodium in my diet (a lot of time over) without adding more.

    I am also very lucky it doesn't mess with my blood pressure. Last time I was in, my BP was 95/67.

    If your blood pressure is fine, then what is the rationale for ditching salt? It seems to me like it would be a waste of effort that could be better spent avoiding sugar, exercising, or just eating less calories. How about avoiding diet sodas instead of salt?
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    Why is everyone so against salt?
  • jenlipe
    jenlipe Posts: 54 Member
    I will still cook with it. And I eat lunch meat occasionally. I still get quite a bit of sodium in my diet (a lot of time over) without adding more.

    I am also very lucky it doesn't mess with my blood pressure. Last time I was in, my BP was 95/67.

    If your blood pressure is fine, then what is the rationale for ditching salt? It seems to me like it would be a waste of effort that could be better spent avoiding sugar, exercising, or just eating less calories. How about avoiding diet sodas instead of salt?

    Because I truly eat way, way too much. I retain a lot of water from it. I can tell a major difference in my legs by not having any added salt for the last 4 days. I work out every day and keep my calories at 1200. When I work off calories I eat those calories back to keep at the 1200. I won't stop eating salty foods (or drinking my beer and olives). But if it makes a difference to stop pouring salt on a lot of foods then I probably should stop.
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    I will still cook with it. And I eat lunch meat occasionally. I still get quite a bit of sodium in my diet (a lot of time over) without adding more.

    I am also very lucky it doesn't mess with my blood pressure. Last time I was in, my BP was 95/67.

    If your blood pressure is fine, then what is the rationale for ditching salt? It seems to me like it would be a waste of effort that could be better spent avoiding sugar, exercising, or just eating less calories. How about avoiding diet sodas instead of salt?

    Because I truly eat way, way too much. I retain a lot of water from it. I can tell a major difference in my legs by not having any added salt for the last 4 days. I work out every day and keep my calories at 1200. When I work off calories I eat those calories back to keep at the 1200. I won't stop eating salty foods (or drinking my beer and olives). But if it makes a difference to stop pouring salt on a lot of foods then I probably should stop.

    You'd have better legs, eating more and not worrying about the salt TBH! I literally put salt on anything I want and look like I do. 1200 is stupidly low.
  • caitlyn30
    caitlyn30 Posts: 207 Member
    I was terrible with the salt shaker. I started to use pepper. I never used to use pepper at all. and I just don't take the salt out of the cupboard and i'm fine. there might be some things that I just have to have it for, but I am so much better.
  • NoJustTheDude
    NoJustTheDude Posts: 16
    Mrs. Dash! The BEST is Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime! It's got a little kick and because it's all spices, there are NO calories, NO sodium, etc.

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