SALT ADDICT....

MissKim78
MissKim78 Posts: 426 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am addicted to salt! I put it on almost everything and find if I don't, the food has very little taste. I even carry some in my purse! :blushing: I also add it to my frozen packaged meals (Lean Cuisine etc) at lunch at work....and I know they are already usually high in sodium! I don't smoke (I hear smokers eat a lot because of reduced taste buds).

I know its not good for me to eat so much (high blood pressure etc) but I don't know how I can cut it and still enjoy the taste of my food! I'm already a picky eater, so it's hard to find things I enjoy! have also heard that salt can make you retain water and therefore add a few digits to that number on the scale.

I know we require a certain amount of sodium in our systems but I'm sure we get more than that requirement in most processed and packaged foods we eat.
Has anyone been like me (feeling like you really need to add salt to most foods) and then cut down on their salt intake? If so, how did you do it and what were the results, if any?

Thanks!!

Replies

  • 3P0X
    3P0X Posts: 302
    How about using spices like cayenne, paprika and so on to give your food some flavor?
  • volatiledreams
    volatiledreams Posts: 28
    lo-salt? it has a low ratio of ordinary salt but the primary ingredient is potassium chloride which obviously has no sodium. no idea what the health risks are but we made it in chemistry once :P i think it tastes like crap to be honest but i am a major salt lover and nothing else will cut it
  • AnnaMarieDinVa
    AnnaMarieDinVa Posts: 162 Member
    I was you right before my high blood pressure diagnosis. I did not think I could live without salt. I would get salted french fries from McDonalds, salt them again, and heavily salt the ketchup in which I dipped them. I salted everything. When my doctor gave me the ultimatum to consume below 2500 mg sodium, I didn't think it was possible. At all. But, I read up on it. The American Heart Association said that salt is an acquired taste, and that as quick as one acquires it, they can lose it. I thought to myself, "well, most people aren't as addicted to salt as I am..." But, I had to give it a try, right? I read labels on foods, started choosing lower sodium foods, and quit eating fast food entirely (one McDonalds meal, for example, can contain more sodium that a person needs in an entire day). MFP was very helpful in that I could track my sodium. I realized I had to give up my one true food love -- dill pickles -- entirely. I'll have one spear on occasion, and track the sodium. To make a long story short, I don't miss the sodium at all. I am shocked. The American Heart Association was right. I don't use salt substitutes, or other spices, I just eat lower sodium food. To be honest, I think I am really tasting food for the first time -- not just the salt. Within four days of trying to eat under 2500 mg sodium, I consistently did so. Normal days for me are now between 1500 mg and 2000 mg sodium. And again, I've never enjoyed my food more. WHO KNEW???? I've been doing this almost two years now. I wish I'd started a long time ago. An interesting side effect, something NONE of my doctors ever told me, was that my debilitating migraines have all but disappeared. Again, who knew?? They prescribed me a ton of scary migraine meds, none of which worked, and none that I need now. I urge you to try going low sodium. It was shockingly easy for me, and if I can do it, anyone can. Good luck!!!
  • MissKim78
    MissKim78 Posts: 426 Member
    Thanks guys....I will give other spices a shot and see how that works. I will have to test a few out as there's not much that goes well on everything...except for salt! LOL I was brought up in a high-salt home. So it will be a hard habit to break!

    I rarely eat out....and if I do it's not fast food (usually a restaurant that we are given a gift card to or for a special occasion). I can't afford it and I'm glad because I have no will power when it comes to a big mac and McDonald's fries! I can't remember the last time I had fast food!

    Being on a tight budget, I am often forced to buy packaged and frozen foods. I do pay attention to sodium amounts and try to get low sodium when possible.

    Thanks for the tips!!

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