Sodium is my worst enemy!

JBott84
JBott84 Posts: 268 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I do NOT know how to go about cutting sodium out of my diet. It seems like all lunchmeat is off limits it's packed full! What do you substitute the regular meats for?

Replies

  • parsnips1980
    parsnips1980 Posts: 11
    i was told by my doctor that since there were no other obvious causes for my high blood pressure, that i could try a very low sodium diet for a year before i was put on medication. i was supposed to try and cut all salt out completely (minus one meal a week where I could cheat), and all of this i was expected to do in asia! it was tricky, but the basic rule is...nothing processed. at all. meat is always a hard one, so i pretty much gave it up and started eating a lot of beans (make sure you rinse them well to get rid of the salt if they are canned!) and tofu (also cheaper than meat over there). my groceries ended up being tofu, yogurt, and a bunch of fruit and veggies and by the end of the year i was told that whatever i did was working and to keep it up. its sneaky stuff this sodium. i hope you like cooking cause that's pretty much the only way to go!
    some other sandwich ideas...
    -get a turkey breast, roast it sunday night and have it all week for sandiwches.
    -low sodium canned tuna or salmon
    -make up some chickpea/bean burger patties and freeze them
    -make a batch of burrito filling: veggies (like broccoli, onion, mushrooms, peppers), beans, rice, and top them with homemade guac and salsa
  • calana
    calana Posts: 88 Member
    I love deli meat sandwiches too and I've had a hard time finding one that is lower sodium, so I've switched to just using leftover chicken breast I cooked myself as my protein on my sandwich or canned tuna in water which is much lower in sodium than deli meat.

    I still have days where I am a little high on sodium, but I don't worry too much because I drink about a gallon of water a day.
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member
    I love deli meat sandwiches too and I've had a hard time finding one that is lower sodium, so I've switched to just using leftover chicken breast I cooked myself as my protein on my sandwich or canned tuna in water which is much lower in sodium than deli meat.

    I still have days where I am a little high on sodium, but I don't worry too much because I drink about a gallon of water a day.


    I like the chicken breast idea. I don't think I could bring myself to cut a bunch of meat out....I like that alternative. Tuna has been great. But I have just noticed my deli lunchmeat is just packed full. I, just like my mother, retain water like nobody's business. So I am trying to work on lowering my intake.
  • kstep88
    kstep88 Posts: 403 Member
    I have the same problem. If I have a high sodium day, I wake up 3 pounds heavier the next day. It's annoying.
    My goal has been to keep it at or below 1500 a day, but I could not do it. I set my goal to 2000 a day and I stay around 1900 give or take 100. I log before I eat, and try to work out what I will eat that way. Fresh meats arent so bad...It is the processed meats that will get you!
  • MinaAriel
    MinaAriel Posts: 138 Member
    If I'm not mistaken, Boar's head is a deli meat brand available at the counter that is relatively lower in sodium. Avoid canned at all costs. Frozen is better, fresh is best. Also, I find that my cheese's have a LOT of sodium as well, some more than others. I've been noticing my sodium levels skyrocketing because I upped my protein. Oh, and potassium helps counter sodium a bit so keep that in mind.
  • brandimacleod
    brandimacleod Posts: 368 Member
    I had a v-8 the other day after the gym. I should have read the label. YIKES! I know the sodium rules about not eating anything processed but I just couldnt believe what that had in it.
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