New to this group and MFP
RaineyLaney
Posts: 605 Member
Hi, My name is Rainey and I just joined MFP 1/16/13. I just found this group and am happy to of joined it. I am 55 now, but when I was 21, I got into selling Shakley (spelling) products. I had a couple cassettes that talked about nutritian, vitamins etc. I remember the one on sodium to this day. I threw my salt shaker away at the age of 21 and have never used extra salt in my foods since. (both my parents had high blood pressure as well as my grandfather on my dad's side). So I knew the odds were stacked against me already. Yes, I have High BP 
and take medicine for it.
It just amazes me how much sodium is in our foods. I try my hardest to keep my sodium under 2400 (what the American Heart Association says). But even with watching my sodium, not using any extra and buying Low sodium products when available, eating more frozen veggies than canned. I still find it hard to keep under that number.
I don't understand why the food companies don't lower the sodium content in the foods.. PERIOD. I had heard back a year or so ago, they were going to, but I seem to see the opposite. Sodium is going up in our foods, not down.
Also, I can taste salt so much more than someone who uses the salt shaker. I can eat something and say, Oh my this is a bit salty and everyone else at table will go, It isn't too bad, LOL.
Any whoo, glad to be apart of this group and if anyone wants to friend me.. please do. Love looking at others food diarys. I have learned a few good tricks of the trade already reading some. And other food diaries scare the crap out of me. Ouch.. mostly liquid diets it seems. SCARY
and take medicine for it.It just amazes me how much sodium is in our foods. I try my hardest to keep my sodium under 2400 (what the American Heart Association says). But even with watching my sodium, not using any extra and buying Low sodium products when available, eating more frozen veggies than canned. I still find it hard to keep under that number.
I don't understand why the food companies don't lower the sodium content in the foods.. PERIOD. I had heard back a year or so ago, they were going to, but I seem to see the opposite. Sodium is going up in our foods, not down.
Also, I can taste salt so much more than someone who uses the salt shaker. I can eat something and say, Oh my this is a bit salty and everyone else at table will go, It isn't too bad, LOL.
Any whoo, glad to be apart of this group and if anyone wants to friend me.. please do. Love looking at others food diarys. I have learned a few good tricks of the trade already reading some. And other food diaries scare the crap out of me. Ouch.. mostly liquid diets it seems. SCARY
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Replies
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Welcom to the group Rainey!
While I agree that reducing sodium (along with raising potassium) is a must for us with HP. There aren't alot of incentives for food companies to lower their sodium levels. If your selling a product, you want to make as much money as possible for yourself, your workers and your investors. the top selling brands are loaded with sodium because that adds flavor along with being a preserv ative.
Those of us looking for reduced sodium products are a small group. Even reading through the forums here, you will run across lots of people giving out advice that people shouldn't worry or track sodium in their diets... as long as you drink plenty of water it supposdely gets flushed out of your system. Most of the people who say that are usually the guys i call "gym rats", they have 10% body fat and have probably never had a weight problem their entire life (is my jealousy showing yet?).
anyways, the job of tracking our sodium intake belongs to us. it was tough at the start, but like you i learned the easiest way was to prepare my own foods. I have been on a bit of a break (holiday blues...) but I am hoping to get back on track and startup my diary again.
Best of luck to you and your husband and your journy!0 -
It's rough trying to track sodium, but I've found eating mostly fresh foods (and only a few things with 'low sodium') is the best way to go. I actually watch the salt more for my husband than myself, so my own food diary doesn't always reflect what I say.
Chicken and Turkey are by far the two best meats you can buy. Get them as fresh as possible; if you don't have access to a freshly cut one, then go to your local food market and look for the 'whole' chicken/turkey rather than the precut (usually soaked in broth) or even worse the deli-style (looooooaded with salt!)
Veggies: Again, as fresh as possible. Even frozen veggies have some salt in them, although not as bad as canned. I'm lucky where I don't live far from a Joe Randazzos; you can fill a carts worth of fresh veggies and fruits for around $20. If you're not lucky where you live near one, then try your local food market again. You may have to pay a bit more than the place I go to, but so long as you blanch and freeze whatever you stock up on then it's worth it rather than buying a pre-made baggie.
It's definitely more of a pain trying to FIND low salt foods rather than making them ourselves, but I think it's a small price to pay for the health we gain. I hope this helps a bit!
And welcome to MFP
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