S.A.L.T.
Stop to Avoid Living with Tension
That white stuff that's on the dinner table, used in recipes, sprinkled on food to season to taste, and as a flavor-enhancer to make food just taste plain good...sodium chloride, a mineral aka "SALT" can bring about chronic, preventable diseases...But, why? I will address this question, pitfalls, perks, and perhaps more about salt in this post.
Salt is everywhere!
It's naturally in our food. It's in processed foods as a preservative. It's in the ground as a natural mineral. It's part of our body composition.
Salt/sodium. We can't live with too much of it. But, we can't live without it.
I've often wondered if there was a healthier alternative to using salt that will make food taste just as good?
I've also often wondered do we really need salt? How much is too much? What happens to our bodies when we consume too much salt?
Do we really need salt?
Our bodies need salt to regulate our body functions...muscles, body fluids, blood pressure, muscle relaxation, and nervous system.
What is the recommended daily salt allowance?
Less than 1 teaspoon (2,300 milligrams) per day.
According to the Journal of Human Hypertension, African Americans are more sensitive to sodium, which according to MOVE, they should only consume 1,500 milligrams or about 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day.
What happens to our bodies when we consume more than one teaspoon of salt in a day?
We face the potential of acquiring chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
These ailments can affect how our kidneys and pancreas function, as well as the loss of calcium, which affects our bones, and can bring about forms of arthritis.
What are ways to control sodium intake?
Drink more water
Read labels
Avoid taking medications and over-the-counter drugs that raise blood pressure
Do not add salt when cooking
Allow diners to salt their food on their plates
Consume smaller portions
Eat more natural fresh foods
Wean from salt by decreasing your intake over time
Avoid pre-packaged and processed foods as much as possible
Rinse canned foods before cooking and eating
Avoid seasonings; they have sodium, which are different from spices that are generally without added sodium
Are there healthy alternatives to salt to flavor our food?
Spices
Herbs
Vinegar
Lemon juice
Black pepper
Basil
Curry
Ginger
Explore your pantry and get creative
Try various combinations to spice-up your food
Now that I control how much sodium I consume, I am not bloated, my ankles and hands no longer swell, no fatigue, no more headaches, no more water weight, weight loss, no more water retention, no more tension or overall body tightness, no more dizziness, or glazed-over eyes, and NO MORE HYPERTENSION!