Do you struggle with your sodium intake?

[Ronni]

I’ve never liked the taste of salty foods so I don’t really have to struggle with how much salt I use. Ron’s the same. I don’t use much or any salt when I cook, preferring pepper and other flavorings. I’m a fan of garlic and onion powder, pepper, nutritional yeast, and other spices depending on what I’m cooking.

I will also use a dash of wine, red or white, again depending on what I’m cooking. My soy sauce is low sodium as are the canned beans, various broths, tomatoes etc.

I’ve been told by my doctor (and followed it up with my own research) that because I don’t eat processed food or fast food, I don’t need to worry much about going over board on sodium because that’s where the over abundance of sodium is hidden in the“typical” American diet.

I do notice that when I eat the occasional take-out pizza or Chinese food, I get inordinately thirsty, I assume because of the high sodium/msg that’s used.

It’s a mixed blessing I think that I prefer tastes that are sweet over savory! . While I might overindulge in chocolate, the potato chips and fast food French fries are safe from me!

 

[Retired Monica]

I am with you 100% on this. When I cook, I do not add extra salt to anything. I prefer to add pepper or other flavorings.

I also rarely eat Chinese food because the salt in that food is enormous. It does make me extra thirsty when I do have it and I don't need to be going to the bathroom all night.

Pizza, I have more regularly and it does the same thing but I love pizza. I try to stick to the veggie pizzas and stay away from the pepperoni pizza.

 

[JustBonee]

Not a salt lover at all .... I only 'struggle' to find good food that contains less salt .... the less salt, the better the taste to me.

 

[StarSong]

Like most humans, I'm drawn salt. The more I have the less sensitive my taste buds are to it.

I don't eat a lot of processed foods and look for low sodium versions in those I do. I buy saltine crackers with unsalted tops, unsalted pretzels, unsalted pistachios, low sodium soy sauce, etc. I make my own mixed nut blend, combining regular (salted) mixed nuts at about 25% with 75% unsalted walnuts, peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, and whatever else I've bought from the bulk bins. They're salty enough to satisfy but not overly so.

Rarely put salt in anything while cooking or even at the table.

Do I indulge in potato or tortilla chips at parties now and then? Of course! But I don't keep them in the house. Rarely order french fries or other salty foods when dining out.

Since I make pizza from scratch including the sauce, and don't eat meat (so no high sodium pepperoni, ham or sausage), and use a very light hand with cheese, my pizza isn't high in sodium.

Don't have high BP and don't want it. Avoiding high sodium foods takes some effort at first but soon becomes second nature.

 

[Balzac]

Avoiding high sodium foods takes some effort at first but soon becomes second nature.

Some 'low salt' brands often just swap sodium for potassium. Many people don't understand all those funny names on the periodic table...

We were looking for low salt stock cubes earlier today. Thought we'd found some but the #1 ingredient was... glucose fructose syrup! Oh yeah, I'd forgotten that healthy alternative~

 

[Been There]

I am no cook, so most people think I eat processed foods out of the grocery store's freezers. No way! I eat healthy, but I also eat and cheat a little. I will sometimes go to Whole Foods, which to me is very good or I will eat plain salad, no dressing, plain pastas, but my treat is to have my once a month meatloaf dinner at a diner not far from me. He swears he only uses the best ingredients and everything is natural. It tastes too goo to be all natural, so I don't now if it is or not and he won't allow me to watch him make it. It's by far the best meatloaf I ever ate. This time of the year, he serves it with fresh white corn off the cob, lima beans and fresh young miniature white potatoes. I eat 2 pieces of the meatloaf and then I can't move for an hour or so.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I avoid salt too much and have started using pink Himalayan salt later to get my iodine for my low thyroid. Since I don’t use salt often when I do have it, I get ridiculously thirsty.

When I got a hair analysis done years ago with a naturopathic doctor, he said I had the lowest sodium reading he’s even seen. The only thing I actually like that’s salty is salt & vinegar chips. lol. Of course it’s junk food so doesn’t help in the least.

Not fond of salt but understand I need some in my system.

 

[Devi]

Sea salt and vinegar chips ... yummy. 'Course, as you said, I can't eat them too often, since they're junk food. Even the organic ones ... still junk food.

 

[Ruthanne]

I'm supposed to be on a no sodium diet because of something with my liver. For that I take a bp pill. I usually don't consume much salt but it is in meats now a days and I have had a craving for potato chips. However there isn't an overabundance of salt in the chips I get.