Salt Alternatives

[ImLostAgain]

I've been warned off salt as much as possible. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any alternatives.
I'm managing fairly well but at times when eating things like boiled potatoes or eggs I really fancy salt.
I know there are things like Lo-salt but I'm wondering if there are complete alternatives to salt itself?

[pastafreak]

I suppose it depends on why you've been warned off salt. If you stay away from processed foods which always contain a lot of salt, you may be able to indulge a bit where needed. The other option would be herbs and spices...start exploring different flavours.

[Old_Geezer]

I use "low salt" and get on with it just fine. Depending on how critical your avoidance is, might be worth a try.

[Old_Geezer]

Answered before reading all your op, but I stick by my suggestion. Otherwise all you can do is overwhelm the usual flavour with something else; much as pasta suggested.

[Sqad]

I agree with pastafreak....tell me what deleterious effect on your health do you think that a little salt on your eggs might have?

[ImLostAgain]

//tell me what deleterious effect on your health do you think that a little salt on your eggs might have?//
No idea. I had a series of very bad bouts of gout a while ago. On top of the tablets I was given, which work very well, he told me to cut salt from my diet. It might be coincidence but when I weaken it doesn't take long for a shooting pain to hit either of, or both my big toes. No swelling or redness and the pain quickly goes.
Also as I now have high blood pressure I was given the same salt advice. I get a stern talking to off a very nice nurse at my yearly health checks :).
I wasn't thinking of any deleterious effects. I was just wondering about alternatives.
As for the herb suggestions (thanks for that by the way), are dried herbs just as good as fresh?

[gingejbee]

It's the sodium part of sodium chloride that's the "baddie"....so it's replaced with potassium in things like Lo-Salt...and it has a sort-of-similar taste. The problem with a "complete alternative" is that it isn't going to taste ANYTHING like salt....

[ImLostAgain]

Ok thanks for that. I'll give Low-salt a try.

[woofgang]

It might be worth asking your advisors how much salt is allowable.

[ImLostAgain]

Yes woofgang, I was thinking that. It's just that they both told me to 'stop' my salt intake. I'll go with the Lo-salt and herb suggestions for now and then ask them at my next appointment(s).

[beso]

Using salt is largely a habit. Just avoid it and get to know the variety of tastes of food instead of using salt to make everything taste much the same.

[Old_Geezer]

Salt makes them flavourful, otherwise it's likely bland.

[pastafreak]

A certain amount of sodium is necessary for the body to function...I'd be reluctant to cut it completely.

[HansUrbancka]

Pastafreak is right about a certain amount of sodium being necessary. Also that Herbs & Spices are worth exploring for flavours.

Click the following link for what the British Heart Foundation says:-

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/herbs-and-spices

Hans.

[theprof]

Are you taking any thiazide diuretics for you blood pressure? If your not certain, just Google "thiazide diuretics". This group of drugs are well known for causing gout and can also aggrevate it in existing gout patients. Many patients are completely unable to take thiazides because of this reason. Can you provide us with a list of the tablets you're taking?

Salt reduction will result in a measurable effect on your blood pressure, but don't exclude it completely from your diet. It is correct to say that processed food invariably contains a lot of salt, but I have met people who deliberately refrain from eating such food and show symptoms of salt deficiency, so be careful.

However, you may have some medical conditions other than high blood pressure and gout which make salt reduction in your case, important.

[jennyjoan]

my brother had to give up salt too and just went on to enjoy herbs.

[Peter Pedant]

for the techie - Prof and Sqasd
the cochrane review - does salt work? yeah but not much
is here
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14974053

so just a little salt seems OK