SALT

wood714

wood714

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Since I found out my cholesterol was high, I've been looking at things I can stop eating to help lower it. I've even been riding my bike...the one with pedals.

Somewhere I thought I read that salt was bad for cholesterol, so as of last week I actually put my salt shaker in the cabinet to keep from grabbing it by habit.

Food has tasted terrible. I use a lot of salt, but the doc told me I have the blood pressure of a teenager.

Yesterday after having fish, pea's and carrots, and a potato with zero salt, I had to check to make sure what I thought I'd read was true.

Come to find out by cutting salt out I was actually at risk of raising my cholesterol. I checked a few sites and they all said the same.

Salt shaker is back on the counter, and I'm a happy camper.

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I haven't salted food in so long I cannot remember. As a result I'm sure my palate is more discerning and my doc is always thrilled with my blood pressure and labs.

I do have elevated total cholesterol but my good/bad ratio is about OK. With some more exercise I should be able to get that down.
 
I met my Wife 42 years ago. The first time she made me dinner I asked her for the salt and she said she didn't have any because she never used it. After we got married she would never buy salt - said it was just no good for blood pressure. Well, it took me a while to get use to that but the moral of the story is that I have not used salt in 42 years! WITH ONE EXCEPTION...... Gotta put it on corn on the cob! Other than that one exception I don't use any at all. When we have corn on the cob, I always make sure I have some squirreled away! ;)

BTW I can tell the same exact same story about sugar - since I met my wife I don't use it any more! When we have Company I always have to check to see if I should run out and buy a box of small packets.
 
The problem with salt and blood pressure is that there are studies with different results. One study I read suggested that moderate sodium intake (~3,000mg, IIRC) was more beneficial than low sodium intake (<1,500mg) in lowering blood pressure and improving overall health. I believe increasing potassium intake was also supposed to be beneficial (I think it involved a sodium/potassium ratio).

There are also some studies showing that dietary fat/cholesterol actually has little impact on blood cholesterol levels.

I'm not a doctor, but from what I've researched it seems the two things that can help lower cholesterol, where I haven't found any contradictory data (yet), is to consume more soluble fiber and exercise more. It also seems that focusing one's diet on whole foods and cutting back on processed foods is good for improving overall health.

FWIW, for the past few months I've been following a plant-based diet to help with multiple health issues, including high cholesterol. I'm having some blood work done this month, so I guess I'll find out if it's helped any.
 
Unless you prepare it yourself.......

...everything in this country tends to be salted to death.

I've seen dietary advice come and go over the years, even 'facts' put out by the medical community as absolutes be debunked over time. That's not even counting the 'fad' stuff you hear every day.

I was on a blood thinner and a low dose aspirin for many years. A few month ago I was told by my doctor that more recent studies suggest that NOT taking aspirin is better, so now I'm off it.

No matter what I tell a dietician, it's "AH, YOU CAN'T EAT THAT! It's THUS AND SO." Well, how about this, "OH NO, THAT IS TOO SO AND SO!" I said, "I like pickles for a snack." "OH GOD NO, THEY HAVE TOO MUCH SODIUM!" Well, they don't have a lot of fat or cholesterol, but they are going to be too....SOMETHING!:mad::mad::mad:

I can always improve my diet, but those people can stuff it as far as I'm concerned.

Ok, I'll calm down. It's obvious that you hit a nerve.
 
I consume the things that God gave us to consume from the beginning and TRY to avoid the man made concoctions.
If He provides it I figure it’s going to be ok.
( And there is that” in moderation “ thing )
 
Yep, moderation is a good thing, most of the time.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
The Majority of salt intake for humans comes from the actual food or food products that we eat. It does not come from the salt shaker on the table (unless of course you are a person that literally pours it on)!!


Check all the foods that you eat for the sodium content


Eat any processed foods, canned soups, veggies, beans etc etc. Fast food, chips, ??? It is all salt!
 
I use all the salt I want and always have. 68, Blood pressure usually around 124/78. My cholesterol is within the limits, but as my bad C is on the high side Dr convinced me to take 1/2 a pill everyday. I have never taken vitamins either.
 
I was diagnosed with Conns syndrome last year, so sodium is a big no-no for me. I found out that once thought uncommon, as many as 1 in 5 people with hypertension have undiagnosed Conns
 
I have always had low cholesterol and great blood pressure and resting heart beat is like a high level athlete and for years I ate lots of junk food and processed food and didn't work out. I was just lucky I guess but for quite a while now I have changed my habits and eat very healthy and lift weights and do 25-35 minutes of cardio 3 times a week. It's probably best to not press your luck.
 
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I am an absolute salt fiend. Love it. On just about everything. I've always been a heavy salter. My girl has switched me over to Pink Himalayan Salt in recent years. She claims it is better for you and even has some bonus health benefits that regular table salt does not possess. I don't know how true all of that is, but I can tell you this: Pink Himalayan Salt has a more potent salty taste than regular table salt, which means I end up actually using less salt on foods than I would if I were using regular iodized table salt. Again, I don't know about any true benefits of pink salt, but I have actually come to like it better. Give it a try. Or don't. Your call.
 
After a heart attack 20 years ago there were lots of things on the don't eat list. Salt was right there at the top. I gotten so that I don't add salt to anything, but I don't go out of my way to avoid it either.
I gotta tell ya, every now and then something real salty like potato chip just tastes sooooo good. :rolleyes:
 
Rule3 said:
Eat any processed foods, canned soups, veggies, beans etc etc. Fast food, chips, ??? It is all salt!
Click to expand...

THIS is the key.

The little bit you sprinkle on top with your salt shaker is actually the most effective way to satisfy your salt craving, because you taste it directly and get the most bang for the quantity.

But canned soups, stews, chili, processed meats like summer sausage, tend to be loaded with sodium without even tasting particularly salty. And you eat one little can and sometimes ingest more than your entire recommended daily intake.
 
StephenWhoDat said:
I am an absolute salt fiend. Love it. On just about everything. I've always been a heavy salter. My girl has switched me over to Pink Himalayan Salt in recent years. She claims it is better for you and even has some bonus health benefits that regular table salt does not possess. I don't know how true all of that is, but I can tell you this: Pink Himalayan Salt has a more potent salty taste than regular table salt, which means I end up actually using less salt on foods than I would if I were using regular iodized table salt. Again, I don't know about any true benefits of pink salt, but I have actually come to like it better. Give it a try. Or don't. Your call.
Click to expand...


Salt is Salt or Salt=Salt plus or minus some impurities
Types of Salt: Himalayan vs Kosher vs Regular vs Sea Salt
 
Black pepper is my go to food condiment. I quit using additional salt since my heart attack in 2015 at age 53. No heart damage was done. Me and my family just produce excessive amounts of cholesterol regardless of diet. Both my parents and one older brother had by-pass surgery. I'm on the most aggressive anti-cholesterol medication you can be on without taking injections. I'm fine and feel fine and try to exercise regularly.
 
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bluetopper said:
Black pepper is my go to food condiment. I quit using additional salt since my heart attack in 2015 at age 53. No heart damage was done. Me and my family just produce excessive amounts of cholesterol regardless of diet. Both my parents and one older brother had by-pass surgery. I'm on the most aggressive anti-cholesterol medication you can be on without taking injections. I'm fine and feel fine and try to exercise regularly.
Click to expand...

Discuss drinking red wine with your doctor?

I've read articles by docs who recommend that for patients with cholesterol problems as it dissolves a lot of it and offeers other heart benefits.
 
Funny thing about studies, maybe they don't tell ya every thing? Like maybe someone cut down on salt intake, but compensated with something else? During an illness had to cut my salt way way down. This meant cutting out all soup in a can, and most other canned/processed food items. Bread also has a significant salt content, as does some milk/cheese products. Salt may be the most common food preservative, but after limiting it for awhile, heavily salted food just tastes nasty.
 
zeke said:
Funny thing about studies, maybe they don't tell ya every thing? Like maybe someone cut down on salt intake, but compensated with something else? During an illness had to cut my salt way way down. This meant cutting out all soup in a can, and most other canned/processed food items. Bread also has a significant salt content, as does some milk/cheese products. Salt may be the most common food preservative, but after limiting it for awhile, heavily salted food just tastes nasty.
Click to expand...

This is one of the problems with self-report studies. In theory, this problem can be minimized through study design and using a large enough sample size, but it can never be eliminated.

The other part of the problem is relying on news/media reports of studies rather than the studies themselves. They tend to report things that'll make good headlines, even if it doesn't necessarily reflect what the study actually showed.

You also want to look at who paid for the study. For example, there was a study done showing health benefits from drinking grape juice, but the study was sponsored by Welch's. Was it biased? Maybe, maybe not. But I'm going to take those results with a grain of salt (pun intended... :D ).
 
StephenWhoDat said:
My girl has switched me over to Pink Himalayan Salt in recent years.
Click to expand...

Not a fan of pink "Himalayan" salt. I found an article written by an analytical chemist who analyzed samples and found trace amounts of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, and uranium. Granted, the amounts are not likely to harm you unless you consume inhumanly large amounts, but then it also makes me wonder if the trace minerals are also in such a small amount that it actually has no benefit.

Consume what you want, but I'll stick with regular iodized salt.
 
Genetics plays a big part. My siblings and I have BP and cholesterol issues, even though I am fit at 6’4” and 210.

I worked with a guy who drank beer, smoked two packs a day, ate nothing but junk, yet had perfect numbers at our annual physicals. No BP or other issue either.

I exercise every day doing at least 30-45 minutes cardio, and an hour lifting weights. None of that has ever had any affect on my HBP and cholesterol, it’s genetic. I watch what I eat for the most part, no added salt or sugar.

You’re gonna die sooner or later, be prepared for the next train.
 
I use a little salt on most things - but not plain old table salt most of the time.

I like Johnny's Seasoning Salt. It's about 2/3 sea salt and MSG and the remaining 1/3 is a mixture of pepper and other spices.

A light sprinkle of Johnny's makes just about everything taste better!

I'm 57 and around 75 pounds over my ideal weight, but my BP is in the 115-120 / 70-75 range. Even when I weighed in at over 400 lbs it was never higher than about 135 / 85. I take after my dad that way. His BP was normal all his life, despite being seriously overweight.

No cholesterol or blood sugar problems either. My cardio vascular system seems to be one of my strongest.

My pulmonary system, not so much.
 
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