No Salt Please!

It is estimated that 25% of people with normal blood pressure and about 60% of those with high blood pressure are salt sensitive, which means that as salt intake goes up so does blood pressure.

“Salt to taste” as it reads in most recipes….at times far exceeds the sodium requirements of our bodies, resulting in water retention, stress on our kidneys and bloating up. Not to mention the fact that if you are salt-sensitive then you may be at a much higher risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Apart from the salt that you add to your food, do you know the amount of stealth salt you are exposed to? The papads, the pickles and the farsan that you eat have excessive salt and so does any other packaged food that you may be consuming on a regular basis. A good idea is to read the labels of what you are buying.

Let us help you identify the stealth salt in your food…

• Use less, or no, salt in cooking or preparing dishes like salads, sauces and dips.
• Remove the table salt and any salt seasoning – such as lemon, pepper, garlic and onion salts.
• You should set aside the masala sachets that come with instant noodles, readymade soups, sauces etc.
• Don’t use readymade salad dressings.

The Alternatives:
For additional flavour to your food, minus the excessive salt, keep a stock of fresh garlic, onion, ginger, parsley, coriander, and seasonings like, dry onion powder, dry mustard, nutmeg, black pepper and roasted cumin powder in your kitchen.

Remember: It’s easier to cut down on sodium when you are on a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products.