Salt!!! Did you know????

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Replies

  • Jade17694
    Jade17694 Posts: 584 Member
    I don't take any notice of my salt, maybe it's a UK thing, no one really makes a fuss about it? The NHS (national heath service) advise no more than 6g salt a day, which is a full teaspoon. But it's logged on here as mg, so am I right in thinking that's 6000mg? But the default on MFP is 2500mg/day, less than half the recommended UK amount.

    ^ :)
  • NicholeRobb
    NicholeRobb Posts: 166 Member
    I don't salt anything. I use alot of spices. Some that seem to have a it more salt than they should though. BUt it's true if u cut ur salt intake ull find u have less taste for it. You may even find some foods that are already salted are even TOO salty. I was reading through some of the recipe labels at my work & was like WOW. Some single dishes contain almost 3000mg of salt in a single serving. Talk about a heart attack in a dish.
  • Kalynx
    Kalynx Posts: 707 Member
    I am always over on my sodium. I do not add salt to anything. I drink a large amount of water, but if I am over my sodium for the day, I am bloated & puffy. I do take a water pill on top of that. So, does anyone know - can you just be 'salt sensitive'? I know that salt has no calories, but if you have it it can mask weight loss due to water retention. Is that the only reason?

    I've found for me (I tend to retain water because of heart/kidney issues) that if I have more than 700 or so in one sitting I retain water for the day...if you have a lot of salt (and or sugar) at one time it forces water cells to absorb through your vein walls and into your fat cells. I saw that explanation on a Dr Oz segment on Oprah a long time ago, but it makes sense to me as I have lived it time and time again. I go over sometimes and regret it later but it eventually works its way out of my body over a few days.

    On the other, I use sea salt as well. I do not use it when cooking and only add some to taste when I'm eating as needed to cut down. I've measured the cranks with my smallest measuring spoon. It may not be 100% accurate but I know how to log two or four healthy cranks of my McCormick's grinder lol. If I don't track it I might forget about it and go over my sodium by 200-400 for the day without realizing it. I keep one at my work desk where I tend to eat breakfast and lunch, one by the stove just in case and one at my dining area. I found them really cheap at the Dollar General lol.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    I don't take any notice of my salt, maybe it's a UK thing, no one really makes a fuss about it? The NHS (national heath service) advise no more than 6g salt a day, which is a full teaspoon. But it's logged on here as mg, so am I right in thinking that's 6000mg? But the default on MFP is 2500mg/day, less than half the recommended UK amount.

    The recommendation is 2500mg of SODIUM per day. 6g (or 6000mg) of SALT has about 2400mg of SODIUM. That's why you're confused :)
  • tania2287
    tania2287 Posts: 236 Member
    I have never added salt to my food when cooking it or when it is cooked.

    The only salt in my food is what is already there.
  • prairiedawg2014
    prairiedawg2014 Posts: 367
    my biggest downfall? SALT! i have always been and probably always will be....a salt-a-holic.
    i cannot and will not give up salt. i have tried to cut down, and i may have a bit, but i just cannot give up my salt.
    iam losing weight, and as long as i drink my water, i think im ok. i have no puffiness from retention.
    give up salt? not me!
  • MsQt
    MsQt Posts: 793 Member
    I try to use Sea Salt but I also drink Distilled water to help flush impurities like sodium out! But beware because Distilled also flushes out minerals which your body needs so I don't always drink that unless i'm training for a fitness competition.
  • missprincessjenny
    missprincessjenny Posts: 104 Member
    I have high blood pressure. So I stopped using salt. Period. I even watch what I add it to when cooking. For instance I made pudding for my kids today from scratch. I did not add salt. Now I notice salt and can't stand the taste of it.
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Seldom add plain salt and then only a little but I always do add other herbs, spices, seasonings. I like the Pampered Chef line of spices, yummy and good quality.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    Did you know that 1/5 tsp. of salt has 590mg. in it? I didn't, I've been thinking that logging my food's sodium was enough. But what about the sprinkles here and there on my brown rice or brocoli? My Gosh, I had no idea? What are you guys using as a salt substitute?

    I do not use any substitute, I just do not sprinkle salt on food, it usually has enough in it anyway.

    However, bear in mind, it is vitally important to ensure you have at least 500mg of sodium per day, so never try to get that daily figure to nought, it will be dangerous x
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    I have Mrs. Dash spices that help with replacing salt.

    I've added iodized salt back into my diet as I was getting paranoid about my lack of iodine sources.

    I think the key to really keeping your salt down is to avoid processed foods, they add it like no tomorrow. (even frozen chicken breasts!!!)
  • ShalisaClam
    ShalisaClam Posts: 190
    I am always over on my sodium. I do not add salt to anything. I drink a large amount of water, but if I am over my sodium for the day, I am bloated & puffy. I do take a water pill on top of that. So, does anyone know - can you just be 'salt sensitive'? I know that salt has no calories, but if you have it it can mask weight loss due to water retention. Is that the only reason?

    I've found for me (I tend to retain water because of heart/kidney issues) that if I have more than 700 or so in one sitting I retain water for the day...if you have a lot of salt (and or sugar) at one time it forces water cells to absorb through your vein walls and into your fat cells. I saw that explanation on a Dr Oz segment on Oprah a long time ago, but it makes sense to me as I have lived it time and time again. I go over sometimes and regret it later but it eventually works its way out of my body over a few days.

    On the other, I use sea salt as well. I do not use it when cooking and only add some to taste when I'm eating as needed to cut down. I've measured the cranks with my smallest measuring spoon. It may not be 100% accurate but I know how to log two or four healthy cranks of my McCormick's grinder lol. If I don't track it I might forget about it and go over my sodium by 200-400 for the day without realizing it. I keep one at my work desk where I tend to eat breakfast and lunch, one by the stove just in case and one at my dining area. I found them really cheap at the Dollar General lol.


    Thx sweetie. It's nice to know I'm not the only one :happy:
  • Butterfly3730
    Butterfly3730 Posts: 220
    The same way you developed a taste for salt... you can develop a taste for no salt. You will get used to it after a while trust me.

    Exactly! I use fresh herbs, lemon juice and Ms. Dash. I also like spicy so I use Cayenne Pepper. I use to eat an extreme amount of salty foods and now I just can't do it. Taste buds change and my blood pressure is regulating.
  • ShalisaClam
    ShalisaClam Posts: 190
    I have high blood pressure. So I stopped using salt. Period. I even watch what I add it to when cooking. For instance I made pudding for my kids today from scratch. I did not add salt. Now I notice salt and can't stand the taste of it.


    I like to make smoothies, and for flavor sometimes add a tbsp or instant fat free/sugar free pudding mix. If you ever get the chance, take a look at the salt content in a box of pudding! One would never know!
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    I don't take any notice of my salt, maybe it's a UK thing, no one really makes a fuss about it? The NHS (national heath service) advise no more than 6g salt a day, which is a full teaspoon. But it's logged on here as mg, so am I right in thinking that's 6000mg? But the default on MFP is 2500mg/day, less than half the recommended UK amount.

    No the recommended daily amount for sodium in the UK for females is 1600mg in the US it is 2400mg.

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_milligrams_of_salt_per_day_for_women
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    I don't know about salt substitutes, except for fresh herbs and other spices, but I do know that you will lose your taste for it if you cut back the sprinkles and gradually stop adding salt to everything. The amount of sodium in processed foods is alarming isn't it?

    That's true. I couldn't really like things my chef boyfriend cooked for me at first because he was blowing my taste buds out with all the salt. He had no idea he was over-salting everything so much. Now, we don't really add it and he says un- or lightly-salted foods taste a lot better after a few months of cutting back. :)
  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    The recommended sodium for anyone with any indication of high BP is max 1500mg/day. It's not hard to stay within this limit if you avoid restaurants and processed foods, but try going out to eat....yikes! (Thanks to MFP and tracking my BP is back down to the healthy range.)
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    I use sea salt on my evening meals. Other than that I don't use it, and I need it I think, as I am struggling to meet my daily sodium needs without it, according to my diary, plus I sweat a lot when I go cycling, which is most days.
  • lauz45
    lauz45 Posts: 243
    The recommendation is 2500mg of SODIUM per day. 6g (or 6000mg) of SALT has about 2400mg of SODIUM. That's why you're confused :)

    Aha! Thank you, when it's talked about on the news etc they don't use the word sodium, they just say salt. Well that's cleared that up!
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