Low Salt Diet

Party_Animal

Thanks Lillibet. Apparently 4 in 10 males and 3 in 10 females have high blood pressure so there's a lot of us about. The trouble is a lot of people don't know about it. I only found out by chance. I went in for an op and they took it before knocking me out. It was touch and go as to whether they'd operate as it was too high. Still you'd expect it to be raised a bit when you're waiting to go into theatre. Trouble is its still high, weeks later. So any dietary advice is very welcome.
Thanks again.

suki1964

Party_Animal wrote:

Thanks Suki, the link didn't work. It took me to a Microsoft Direct X link.

Oh dear - dont know where I went wrong

Anyway go to www.salt.gov.uk and you will find lots of info and the link to the calculator there

Good luck with the dietry changes as they really can help lower blood pressure. I was hospitalised three times by time I was 35 because my blood pressure was so high. I was on drugs until I got my act together and cut out the alcohol, changed my diet, took up some exercise (walking and swimming) and lost 3 stone weight. Blood pressure is still at the higher end of normal but I at least no longer take drugs daily. Unfortunately Im still a smoker

The other big change I made which I believed really helped was to change jobs. I was in a job I hated but stayed in because of the money. I found it very stressful and did have a lot of sick time. I now work less hours for less money but am much calmer and happier. And the drop in money hasnt really been that noticable as we no longer spend so much on take outs and resturants

System

I have high blood pressure and am on medication for it, i used to add salt to my vegs when i cooked them, but i am finding that if i steam them, they dont need salt.

Austin_Allegro

I find that mixed herbs and garlic make quite a good substitute for salt on potatoes, pasta etc.

People next to me on the bus might not agree though...

tiff

A lot of American recipes include salt, including some cookies I made. I NEVER add salt and I always reduce the amount of sugar quoted, everything has still come out really well. The only time I actually use salt at the table is on chips.

Doesnt milk containt salt too? I didnt realise cornflakes were high in salt. This just reinforces that we dont know enough about the food we eat, despite the nutrition labels which arent that easy to understand if you know nothing about nutrition!

in_my_wellies

Margaret
I don't think there is anything wrong with Lo Salt for most people. It just must be avoided by people on certain medication for high BP. Something to do with potasium build up in the kidneys. My OH needs three every day and we can't remember which one causes the problem.
We steam all the veg now and don't put the salt pot on the table. The children never look for it.

tiff

My father in law had a stroke when he was 42 and lost the use of one side of his body. He is now 67 and has to watch his blood pressure, he is also diabetic. My MIL uses LO Salt, maybe she should ask his doctor about that?

in_my_wellies

I should think he will be after 25 years! My husbands test result showed after only 1 year but now it's OK. I think the doctor would be aware of it, all the doctors my OH sees are very aware of the test.

Party_Animal

Does anyone know a good way of making stock without using much salt. I've been checking stock cubes and gravy granules; both high in salt. I'm making a chicken chillie for tea and I'd never reaalised before how much salt went into it indirectly. I've got some passata instead of tinned tomatoes but there's salt in the beans and I normally add some chicken stock.
Thanks again for all the above advice.

Galtizz

Make it from chicken and veg.

Not sure how to do the chicken one (I new to this too and used to use stock cubes). To make a veg one is really easy. either put all the carrot tops and bottoms, cabbage and leek leaves, broccoli and cauliflower stalks or whatever bits you chop of veg, bung it all in a stock pot, add some water, bring to the boil then simmer, strain water though a strainer/ sieve/ muslin/ clean tea towel and thats it; veg stock fridge or freeze until ready to use it. I think you can also just use the water you used to boil veggies in.

I think you can use the water you cooked the chicken in to use as chicken stock, but I'm not sure if that has too much fat in it

Alternatively Kallo do salt free stock cubes, but I haven't seen these for sale in supermarkets.

There is a discussion about tinned tomatoes and the type of salt in the tins HERE.

Not sure what sort of beans you add but could you use dried beans and soak them yourself? I think baked beans are really called Fagolli beans (I'm sure SarahSaver or Caterina will correct me if I'm wrong ) I'm not big on beans You might find that fagolli beans in a tin (i.e, not in tomato sauce) are lower in salt?