SALT - Most of us get only about 15% of our salt from the salt shakers at the dinner table. As much as 70% of the salt we eat every day come from processed foods, such as cheese, soup, serial, ships, bread and many other foods sold in colourful packaging.
Salt or not to salt? that is the question for people with high blood pressure. And, until recently, there was no clear answer from the medical community.
Some were advised by their doctors to stop using salt, while others could go ahead and east salty olives washed down with equally salty tomato juice. Now thankfully, science has come up with a game plan for everyone.
Did you know? Before you try a salt substitute, check with your doctor. Some salt substitutes or 'lite' salts contain a mixture of sodium chloride (salt) and other compounds. To achieve that salty taste, you may end up using more of the salt substitute than you do of regular salt - resulting in no reduction in sodium intake!!
Shaking from your diet:
Eat fewer processed or 'convenience' foods.
Read labels on processed foods for salt content
Don't cook with salt - it draws out the goodness of foods into water
Flavour foods with spices instead of salt
Plan meals ahead of time and make sure the salt content is low
Steam vegetables instead of boiling - boiling decreases potassium content (said to lower blood pressure
Keep up your water intake
As with everything, moderation is the key to success. If your instinct say your eating too much salt then you probably are so take notice and modify your diet
...and remember...have a fabulous retirementLIFE....
