OT: Low salt diet?

[bfit]

My husband has borderline high blood pressure, and the doctor wants him to try a low salt diet before trying medication. I don't mind modifying recipes and menus and such, but everything "low salt" is so dry and tasteless - either cooked at home or purchased. I have one low salt cookbook, but mostly it just leaves out the salt, flavoring, and oil and doesn't add anything back in to compensate for that (thus, dry and tasteless). Does anyone have any suggestions?

[fanofladyvols]

I prepare our food with as little salt as possible and it was hard at first so we reduced until it's minimal. There are definitely some things that need salt though.

It actually isn't as hard to make things flavorful as you might think. Spices of all varieties are increased, and as your taste buds adjust, you adjust to not really wanting it.

The key is examining labels and preparing your own versions of things like prepared seasonings, sauces and condiments, etc. They have so much sodium that you start to be stunned how much you actually consume.

Take a look at what you use the most and start there. It took a solid year for me to adjust and substitute things to find versions we enjoyed. I'll never go back to eating the way we were before.

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

[bubbles76]

What FOLV said. I've been watching labels and cutting out salt for years due to migraines. It takes awhile, but you do adjust. I still have good fats, oils, and other seasonings. Just not salt.

Now if I could only get on board with lowered sugar...

[bzar]

my taste buds adjusted after a while.

that said, i am taking a low-dose prescription "water pill" to keep my BP low. I don't want doc to increase the dosage, so i have been trying to keep it down by keeping my salt intake down.

i am also a blood donor - they won't take your blood if your BP is higher than a certain range, so a few times, i had to defer. these are the sure-fire ways that bring it down swiftly, and i mean in a matter of minutes:

1) alternate nostril breathing
2) *beet juice
3) *low sodium V8 juice (of which beet juice is one of the major components)
4) cardio - low intensity, about 30 min

*eating low sodium foods/beverages with high potassium lowers your BP - a banana, baked potato, cantaloupe, others

i also inadvertently lost a few pounds, and that brought it down a lot, in addition to my cholesterol.

[prettyinpink]

Yes, you do get get used to it, tastebuds become more salt sensitive as they get more used to the taste of foods without so much added salt in everything.

I use lots of herbs and spices. Lemon juice or lime juice are also good on vegetables and in soups to add another layer of flavor.

You could look at some recipes for the DASH diet, designed to lower blood pressure.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-l...s/rcs-20077146

Salt substitutes I find are hit or miss. Mrs. Dash, Table Tasty, No Salt are some. It’s not a salt substitute but I like the Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning.

[fanofladyvols]

Trader Joe's 21 seasoning is a staple!!