Pass the Salt

Pass the Salt (Full Version)

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christine1 -> Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 5:03:40 AM)
i am addicted to salt, i put it on most anything. i've come to realize that i eat too much of it and since i'm no spring chicken anymore, that it is an area i need to look at seriously. in the last few days i've tried to cut my intake down and boy do i not like unsalted food! maybe i'll just have to acquire a taste for it over time. i suppose i could just go cold turkey, i'm sure my body wouldn't go into shock, but i might find myself looking for a salt-lick the next time i'm on a hike. anyone have some tips for easing out of a bad salt habit? are there herbs or spices that might come close to salt? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

windchymes -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 7:20:11 AM)
christine, I use Morton's Lite Salt Mixture. The label says "1/2 the sodium of table salt". I can't tell the difference, but I was never a heavy salter of my food to begin with, lol. You would have gotten along great with my mother....she used to salt dill pickles [8D]

sirsholly -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 7:32:12 AM)
the lite salt mixtures can be very high in Potassium and can cause muscle cramping if you use as much as i fear you will use. They are generally not recommended if you have any other health issues. Christine...perhaps you can look in the seasoning section for products such as Mrs. Dash. They are a blend of different herbs/seasoning are are not too bad!!!!

christine1 -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:02:07 AM)
thanks both of you, i'll check out the lite salt and the ms. dash. i don't have any health problems, i'm just trying to keep it that way if you know what i mean.

camille65 -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:04:50 AM)
Try using salt with a much larger grain like sea salt. You may find that just a few grains are enough to season your food. Or try a garlic salt blend?I agree with the Mrs Dash stuff and other spice mixes, they are fantastic but you may need to add a touch of salt until you adjust to saltlessness. I don't even have a salt shaker in my kitchen I so rarely use it, it covers too much of the flavor for my taste buds.

sub4hire -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:37:04 AM)
No salt issue here so I have a hard time empathizing with your issue. So my best answer would be to start cooking with more herbs. They flavor food up nicely. My mother had the issue you are having. I bought the lite salt stuff for her. The Mrs. Dash...and everything else you can think of. Nothing seemed to stop her from grabbing the real salt shaker. Drink extra water to lessen the affects of the salt intake? I really don't know.

fungasm -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:40:50 AM)
If you like salt and are trying to cut down, try lemon juice instead. (Sounds strange, but cut a lemon in four quarters and squeeze one on your French Fries or Vegetables.) The acid will fool your taste buds and make them happy.

MissMacey -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:52:32 AM)
My grandfather salts everything--including fruit! I have had to reset his taste buds. I use various Mrs Dashes, sea salt mixes--which are strong, and herb blends I do myself. The key is to make stuff yourself so you're not constantly switching between prepped food already loaded with sodium and your 'lite' edibles. It takes time and food will taste different but once your tongue is used to a consistent level, you will find most things too salty. Good luck and congrats on trying to improve your health.

Hekaron -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 9:24:27 AM)
Quick and dirty response, because of lack of time; maybe I'll be able to edit & expand later on. Have you had your kidney and adrenal function evaluated by a specialist? There are several conditions caused by a dysfunction (e.g. Addison's disease, Gitelman's syndrome). Thyroid and parathyroid could be implied too. Don't let this scare you, just trying to cover all possibilities. Are there any symptoms related to hypernatremia (high blood levels of sodium) such as high blood pressure? Any other noteworthy symptoms? There is a possibility that you have a mineral carency that presents itself to you as a salt craving. Off course, in that case consuming more salt does nothing to remedy the cause and might even make it worse, if the extra sodium is excreted together with other minerals that helped create the craving in the first place. Have you had a mineral lab assessment giving an impression about your status concernng the most important macro- and micronutrients? Easiest and safe evaluation intervention is: take a good broad multi-mineral supplement, but don't overdo it. More is not necessarily better. You might alternate with "Shilajit" a mild Ayurvedic supplement that is rich in micro-nutrients (and 'nano-nutrients'). Be sure to buy a reliable brand, as poor imitations are on the market. Kitchen herbs often contain a lot of minerals too (and hence can replace salt to an extent), but you have to know your way around. If a carency is the case, any of these interventions should decrease your craving. Let me know if this helps please. Another cause could be, not a specific disease of your adrenals, but a general situation of exhaustion. Been throught a lot of stress or sickness when these cravings developed? You might visit a qualified naturopath or dietician who knows about orthomolecular therapy on a scientific level to help you evaluate and understand (!) your nutritional status. This should not replace a thorough check by a regular specialist. That's it for now. Hope it helps a bit! Ron

christine1 -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 9:35:29 AM)
fungasm, thanks for the lemon juice idea, that actually sounds really good! Hekaron....i don't have high blood pressure or blood sugar levels and as of 3 months ago my liver/kidney functions were fine, but i do have severe anemia and pica...maybe that could cause my salt cravings, i don't know. you bring up some good points and i will keep them in mind when i visit the doctor next.

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 9:38:31 AM)
Do you smoke?

christine1 -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 9:39:38 AM)
HK, no i don't smoke, never have.

KatyLied -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 10:08:40 AM)
It is possible to reset your taste buds and overcome the salt. I've not had salt on my table for 30 years. I use a salt grinder when I need salt for cooking. I must have black pepper. I also use a grinder for that. I also sometimes purchase the Mrs. Dash or Lowry's seasonings, there are tons of different varities available.

Aanakaris -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 4:07:51 PM)
I also fall in the "Don't use salt" category. I have some in my home but only for recipies that call for it. The salt and pepper shakers I purchased 5 years ago still has the original salt in it. Almost never gets used. You're wise to cut down on your sodium intake. Not only is it bad for your blood pressure but studies are beggining to link it to atherosclerosis. If you think cold turkey is the only way, then I would visit the spice isle at a supermarket or organic foods store and check out what they have. Mrs Dash is fine, but there are huge varieties of spice mixes that could work for you. My favorite is one I found online called "Road Kill Fixins" and it is excellent. You could have one for various meals or snacks, such as popcorn and lemon/garlic spice or steak seasonings and eggs. Also, as you cut out the salt be prepared to lose some weight. Your body stashes all that salt away by diluting it to 0.9% with water. You might find yourself dropping 10+ pounds just from water loss. My father did just that when he cut back on the salt. Howard

snappykappy -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 4:11:19 PM)
christine try true lemon or true lime which i find next to the splendora in the grocery stores this is also good to put into water both the lemon and lime and definetly makes the water easier to drink

snappykappy -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 4:12:18 PM)
christine if u cannot find it in the grocery store u frequent try to google it and u should find locations which have it

christine1 -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 8:15:24 PM)
thanks all for the great suggestions! i'm sure i'm going to try them all before i "break the habit"....[:)]

FangsNfeet -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/4/2008 9:21:03 PM)
I just had to get use to not adding salt to food. Instead, I'll add more pepper. This also applies to green beans and corn. As for mash potatos, minimual salt as the directions say and add extra butter, chives, garlic, and bacon bits. We have to have sodium to live. I just eat what's there and don't add. In time, it'll become an aquired taste. After you get use to it, cambels, Wing Stop, and Salted Crackers will overwhelm you and may cause you to cramp up the next morning. The same goes for sugar. I no longer add it to my tea. I quit drinking coffee, soda, years ago. When it comes to cool aid, I use Xylotol.

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/5/2008 2:43:47 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: christine1 HK, no i don't smoke, never have. Just wondering. When I smoked, I required extra seasoning because my tastebuds were dead. Can you handle chiles? (Capsicums)

angelikaJ -> RE: Pass the Salt (6/5/2008 4:38:43 AM)
Since you don't have a health issue now, perhaps just try cutting back a little, get used to that...cut back again... I don't think you need to go cold turkey... I read somewhere that sometimes people who crave salt may have a calcium deficiency.

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