The Low Salt Diet
Most of us dislike low salt diets. Saltiness is a learned habit, and eating salty foods further fuels the craving. To begin a low salt diet, you must replace the salt with seasonings using herbs and spices. After 3 weeks on a low salt diet, you will notice that normal foods will begin to taste salty.
The consequences of not adhering to a low salt diet are high blood pressure, or hypertension, strokes, congestive heart failure, and heart disease. A low salt diet must exclude baking soda, baking powder, MSG, salty snacks, and pickled items. Low salt diets means you eat less processed foods, baked goods, meats, dairy products, and certain pre-sweetened cereals. TIP: Shun canned vegetables unless they are labeled as "no salt added." One tablespoon of canned peas contains as much salt as 5 pounds of fresh peas! And be careful when eating out! Restaurants usually super-salt!
For more information, we recommend: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Based on the groundbreaking results of his 20-year nutritional study, Dr. Esselstyn explains, with irrefutable scientific evidence, how we can end the heart disease epidemic in this country by changing what we eat. Click for more... |
Low salt diets follow much of the healthy eating suggestions mentioned on other pages. In addition:
- undercook vegetables slightly, and eat them a bit crispier.
- toast bread and cereals for added flavor.
- learn to flavor foods with lemon juice, fresh herbs, parsley, taragon, garlic and onions instead of salt.
- take advantage of the excellent salt free or low salt diet cookbooks available in today's market. (Visit our online cookbooks section and select one of our great cookbooks).
Contact CHIP to learn more. "Be Healthy by Choice, Not by Chance!"