Do you still eat things with added salt?

xstephnz
xstephnz Posts: 278 Member
edited November 13 in Food and Nutrition
I love crisps, crackers etc, but they must have so much salt added. It can't be good for you!!! Not sure if they can be eaten in moderation.
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Replies

  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    Unless you have a medical condition, there isn't anything wrong with salt.
    Look at the packages and find a lower salt alternative if it really bothers you - Lays makes a lower salt chip, Cape Cod as well.

    But there are some with low blood pressure, like myself, who have been told by a doctor to eat more salt.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    ...and people with high blood pressure who have been told to limit salt. I still eat things with added salt. But I also do a lot of home cooking where I limit how much I put in. I get all my nuts unsalted now.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    Garlic salt is like its own food group in my house.
  • RainyDaysAgain
    RainyDaysAgain Posts: 69 Member
    The sodium content of prepared soups has definitely stopped me from buying them. I eat at restaurants a few times a month, and that food can be very salty. I can tell by how puffy my eyes are the next day. I don't worry about the sodium content of chips and crackers, because I eat modest portions of them.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    Garlic salt is like its own food group in my house.

    yesh!
    garlic is a food group in my place
  • RainyDaysAgain
    RainyDaysAgain Posts: 69 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    Garlic salt is like its own food group in my house.

    amen!
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    Still eat added salt, and in fact my kids require extra salt on top of that. Our bodies need salt, and the more you work out and sweat, apparently the more salt you need, so you don't pass out while at practice. Good thing to know ;)
  • xstephnz
    xstephnz Posts: 278 Member
    Still eat added salt, and in fact my kids require extra salt on top of that. Our bodies need salt, and the more you work out and sweat, apparently the more salt you need, so you don't pass out while at practice. Good thing to know ;)

    Ok this is going to sound really dumb (although you wouldn't think that was an issue considering some of the stuff I've said today), but doesn't food already have all the salt it needs?
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    Garlic salt is like its own food group in my house.

    Double this.

    On everything.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    xstephnz wrote: »
    Still eat added salt, and in fact my kids require extra salt on top of that. Our bodies need salt, and the more you work out and sweat, apparently the more salt you need, so you don't pass out while at practice. Good thing to know ;)

    Ok this is going to sound really dumb (although you wouldn't think that was an issue considering some of the stuff I've said today), but doesn't food already have all the salt it needs?
    Depends on taste preference, really.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    I don't have high blood pressure so I eat as much salt as I please.
  • ksy1969
    ksy1969 Posts: 700 Member
    I don't worry about salt. Usually I am over MFP's recommended amount before supper and I don't add salt to anything. My wife might when she is cooking but I don't. Just drink plenty of fluid and unless you have a risk factor it is a non issue.

  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    xstephnz wrote: »
    Still eat added salt, and in fact my kids require extra salt on top of that. Our bodies need salt, and the more you work out and sweat, apparently the more salt you need, so you don't pass out while at practice. Good thing to know ;)

    Ok this is going to sound really dumb (although you wouldn't think that was an issue considering some of the stuff I've said today), but doesn't food already have all the salt it needs?

    If you're working out 3-5 hours of strenuous training a day, apparently not, found that out the hard way. Some people sweat saltier than others, athletes can determine this by licking their sweat after a workout. The saltier, the more replacement salt they need. This can determine which sports drink they should be using, for example. (All of this according to a sports nutritionist, and from our dr from fainting at practice)
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,899 Member
    Salt is good. I've been known to salt my bacon, lol. Still lost 140lbs, with BP (at 235lbs) of 102/74. No worries.
  • roxielu0422
    roxielu0422 Posts: 102 Member
    I don't go looking for added salt, but I haven't stopped eating chips, crackers, etc. The only effect it has on me is water retention.
  • LifeNewandImproved
    LifeNewandImproved Posts: 125 Member
    I don't go out of my way to reduce salt unless I'm in a plateau and desperate to see the scale move (sodium causes water retention). However, I have used Nu Salt as an alternative and it's pretty good for most things. It's best as a garnish for taste but I don't know how it would work in a recipe where it performs other functions. It also helps you get more potassium into your diet which I read some broscience thing that said 90% of Americans are not getting their RDA in Potassium. I know I hardly ever hit it myself (usually a mile away even) so I try to use Nu Salt when I find I need to for that reason.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i dont necessarily worry about it, though i rarely add it when im cooking. hubby adds it to everything (and has the blood pressure to show for it)
  • Nataliegetfit
    Nataliegetfit Posts: 395 Member
    today I realized that the deli smoked turkey I usually have 2 thin slices cut up in my salad for some protein and it had a ton of salt. I will check for some lower sodium kind next trip to town.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    I try to buy lower sodium items. Everything tastes really salty to me these days. I am always over on sodium. Unavoidable really.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,345 Member
    I really don't care about salt content, unless it's the day before a weight in haahaa (vain!). I like salty food. It's probably my favourite flavour and I'll take a salty savoury over a sweet food any day. I don't have high blood pressure nor any other issue that would indicate that I need to watch my sodium intake.
  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member
    everybody is different. Some people are wacked out and backwards from what the professionals would tell you....for example, I actually end up with higher blood pressure the less salt I have. I thought I was being good by doing "low sodium" as well as not adding any salt to anything and it just kept getting higher and higher until I decided I might as well have tasty food again if low sodium wasn't going to help anyway. Boom. within days I went from months and months of averaging 145/84 to an average of 106/64. Conversely, I find that the more salt I add, the lower I trend...so I guess too much for a long time would be just as detrimental if I ended up with too low of a blood pressure.
  • tuckerrj
    tuckerrj Posts: 1,453 Member
    edited March 2015
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    I don't have high blood pressure so I eat as much salt as I please.

    ^^THIS^^ I salt nearly everything savory I eat and my blood pressure remains around 110/65, in spite of the fact I'm "obese" by BMI standards.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    I have to add salt to everything per cardiologist orders :)

  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    I work out and I do not eat a ton of processed food so I absolutely add salt. Your body needs salt. If you sweat you lose salt and need to replace it. If you are eating fast food everyday you are probably getting plenty though.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I don't go looking for added salt, but I haven't stopped eating chips, crackers, etc. The only effect it has on me is water retention.

    +1, except for the water retention. I have HBP and have to eat low sodium foods, but I still eat chips etc.. You can find lower sodium versions. If I didn't eat what I want, I'd have killed someone by now. :P

  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I'm pretty sure the recommendations to reduce sodium are based on the average western diet which includes a LOT of processed foods (hello hidden sodium). If your diet is mostly whole foods then there really isn't an issue and you might even need to focus on adding salt to thing to make sure you're getting enough. I've been told to add salt to all my food by trainers because I cramp up a lot (my blood pressure is on the lower side also). Good thing I love salt!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I don't care for the taste of salty things, generally, so I don't add it. On the other hand, sometimes I do crave salt so popcorn with tons of butter and salt takes care of that!
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    gmallan wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure the recommendations to reduce sodium are based on the average western diet which includes a LOT of processed foods (hello hidden sodium). If your diet is mostly whole foods then there really isn't an issue and you might even need to focus on adding salt to thing to make sure you're getting enough. I've been told to add salt to all my food by trainers because I cramp up a lot (my blood pressure is on the lower side also). Good thing I love salt!

    I found adding a magnesium supplement helped with my cramping during runs. I discussed it with my physical therapist and since taking it, I dont cramp up
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    edited March 2015
    gmallan wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure the recommendations to reduce sodium are based on the average western diet which includes a LOT of processed foods (hello hidden sodium). If your diet is mostly whole foods then there really isn't an issue and you might even need to focus on adding salt to thing to make sure you're getting enough. I've been told to add salt to all my food by trainers because I cramp up a lot (my blood pressure is on the lower side also). Good thing I love salt!

    I found adding a magnesium supplement helped with my cramping during runs. I discussed it with my physical therapist and since taking it, I dont cramp up

    Trust me, I've researched and tried everything. I take magnesium also. I'm not sure what brought it on but one season I just started cramping badly all the time and haven't really stopped ever since. Initially I think it was because I was under-conditioned but I'm not sure what it is now. Science doesn't really seem to have any conclusive answers maybe I'm just getting old
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    i eat miso and canned soups often, lottts of pickles, condiments w/ added salt, salsas, processed pb, and add salt/sea salt to the foods i cook on the daily. i don't see it as an issue unless you barely hydrate yourself (i drink lots of herbal teas & waters, so i think im good) or you have a medical issue of some sort. i love salty stuff & only bloat if i get lazy about keeping up with my water intake
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