1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

How do YOU Cope with Low Sodium Diet?

Posted by Errol, Alumni Mentor @duvie, Mar 16, 2018

Lilbit had congestive heat failure last year about this time and has been placed on a low sodium diet.
How were YOU able to shop for low sodium foods? How do YOU compensate for the taste of not having salt?
Has ANYONE found spices or condiments to help off set the taste of food with very little sodium?
Have YOU become satisfied with the way your food taste? What advice would YOU recommend to others who have just been placed on a low sodium diet? Have YOU found any restaurants who offer low sodium meals? .....I know when I called the daughter who had gone shopping for the very first time to try to find food her mom could eat, she was in tears walking through Wall Mart and saying she couldn't find anything within the allowable mg of sodium.. I told her, this is all new to us but we will figure it all out.
She actually did good with fresh vegetables, some frozen foods, and fresh fish.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

Errol, Alumni Mentor | @duvie | Mar 20, 2018
In reply to @soloact "Lee & Perrins sauce for red beans and rice is the secret ingredient, to me, and..." + (show)
@soloact

Lee & Perrins sauce for red beans and rice is the secret ingredient, to me, and you can probably find low-salt or reduced-salt sausage if you think that's the secret ingredient. Try turkey kind, rather than pork? It has added spices. But pork, especially bacon, are just death-wish food if you have heart failure. Ketchup is filled with salt and hides the taste of food. Maybe start going to your local farmer's market every week? This is a great time of year. You'll find beautiful colors, an ever-changing array of fruits and vegetables that have so much more taste than even at produce stands and certainly better than in any stores, plus it's a festive atmosphere and helps support your local farmers.

There are endless videos about low-salt eating and cooking (and probably caretaking, too, since you mentioned that. Most are on YouTube, but there are probably some on Vimeo and longer ones on TEDtalks, too. There are even recipes for low-salt recipes and cooking demos. So: Next reason you can't do this, please? 😉

Congestive Heart Failure and Low-Sodium Diet (5:42)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOp9uWpqNPc
13 Ways To Successfully Lower Your Salt Intake, by a doctor (5:28)


How to Reduce Your Salt Intake (1:40)

There are even a lot of videos with low-salt recipes and cooking demos:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=low+salt+cooking


And here's one on groceries, even:

Jump to this post

Hello @soloact, WOW, this is fantastic!!!! I watched the 1st video and it explains great info that I hope to pass on to others in the future.
We have a Dr's appointment for 2 but I'll be back to look at the others when I can. This proves what I said in an earlier comment, YOU are a very wise lady!!! Thanks for the videos!!!

REPLY
Solo Act | @soloact | Mar 20, 2018

No, not wise. I'm simply do my homework. I can't act until I understand the reason, so I check things and learn.

REPLY
Errol, Alumni Mentor | @duvie | Mar 21, 2018

hello @soloact, watched them all along with some that followed. Excellent information to keep in mind to help others in the future.
You have been the lone member that has responded to my post with valuable comments and even included videos.
I do use many of the products shown in the video in regards to things to get at the store. ....Thanks very, very much!!!!

REPLY
mpeters | @mpeters | Apr 8, 2018

I was diagnosed with hypertension at age 25. My husband and I both need a low sodium diet , so that is good. I do most of the cooking. We buy fresh fruits and vegetables and have learned to enjoy their natural taste, but it did take some time. I use spices to make meals taste better, if need be. Most of our vegetables are steamed and then spritzed with a fresh lemon at the end. We usually have rice cooked just in water and have learned to like a combo of brown rice and faro, cooked just in water. I make our bread. I use a little bit of salt because the yeast needs some. Mostly we stay away from prepared foods. Food cooked in restaurants does not taste good because it is too salty. If you can hang in there for a while, I believe your taste buds will adapt. You might consider asking your doc for a consultation with a registered dietitian. Good luck with this and please write and let us know how things are going.

REPLY
florence1022 | @florence1022 | Jul 26, 2018
In reply to @soloact "I rarely ADD salt to anything, and I avoid "prepared" foods. That sounds like the core..." + (show)
@soloact

I rarely ADD salt to anything, and I avoid "prepared" foods. That sounds like the core problem: Packaged foods, which are full of other junk, too. I use lemon juice from FRESH lemons (the kind in plastic isn't good) to season fish and vegetables. I really like it and don't like salty things anymore at all. Cooking and eating "real foods" ends up being far tastier than packaged ones, too -- and less costly.

Jump to this post

Watch out for ketchup. It is loaded with sugar.

REPLY
bdade59 | @bdade59 | Jul 28, 2018

Hi..I am having the same problem but there is a product made from soy protein..it helps with favor..you want miss salt!..you only can use1tps.thats 45mg.. of sodium... it's called liquid Aminos*..it's by braggs.. all purpose seasoning..it's a natural soy sauce alternative,but i can use l tpspoon on alot...it on takes a tiny bit!...I found it at whole foods!

REPLY
mlmcg | @mlmcg | Jul 28, 2018

When I saw "How do YOU cope with a low sodium diet?" I had trouble not wanting to add my comments.

As a child I was raised on, what would be called today a very high sodium diet. Thirty to forty years ago my father had to go on a low sodium diet for dizziness. I figured "I am my father's daughter" I too may have to watch my sodium intake. I slowly removed sodium from my died. However, ten years ago I had to go on a low sodium diet and still needed to reduce more sodium from my diet. I tried some of the substitutes and did not like any of them (lemon juice and unflavored vinegar's do not count) and to this day I do not use any substitutes. I just slowly kept reducing sodium in my diet.

I read labels every time I buy foods. If there are 140mg of sodium per serving I look at the serving size, amount of protein, sugar and fat. I then read the ingredients, if salt is listed among the first ingredients or listed more than once I am more than likely to put it back. Even when the sodium count is over 500 for a complete meal I will put it back. I might eat more than the daily limit the rest of the day. I can taste the sodium in my foods today, if I have to add salt to something I add a very small amount to the top, eat the top layer and I don't need any more salt.

Baby foods do not have any sodium in them and babies do not learn about salt until parents start seasonings their foods. Bought foods, or drinks, high in sugar are more likely t be high in sodium too. Because they are not food items so they do not have to list their ingredients. Good luck.

mlmcg

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.