Blood pressure and salt

I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

"Brad Sheppard" wrote in message
om...
I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

I've never been one to add salt to my food and the only thing it seems to
cause is water retention for me. Have you tried any of the Mrs. Grass's
seasonings? Most are salt free and quite good. I use them to flavor my
vegetables, tofu, etc.

Beverly

"Brad Sheppard" wrote in message
om...
I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

I've never been one to add salt to my food and the only thing it seems to
cause is water retention for me. Have you tried any of the Mrs. Grass's
seasonings? Most are salt free and quite good. I use them to flavor my
vegetables, tofu, etc.

Beverly

"Brad Sheppard" wrote in message
om...
I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

You might use "low salt" (66% potassium chloride 33% sodium chloride) *if*
your potassium is not too high already (blood test - high potassium level is
harmful, very low potassium level could also explain the BP). There's still
sodium, but only one third. Besides, potassium can lowers blood presure.
You could also try monosodium glutamate. There's still sodium, but for some
people it enhances the meal at much lower doses than salt, so they still cut
the total amount of sodium. Though some people seem to react badly to
glutamate.
Or you could just try spices.

"Brad Sheppard" wrote in message
om...
I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

You might use "low salt" (66% potassium chloride 33% sodium chloride) *if*
your potassium is not too high already (blood test - high potassium level is
harmful, very low potassium level could also explain the BP). There's still
sodium, but only one third. Besides, potassium can lowers blood presure.
You could also try monosodium glutamate. There's still sodium, but for some
people it enhances the meal at much lower doses than salt, so they still cut
the total amount of sodium. Though some people seem to react badly to
glutamate.
Or you could just try spices.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 at 08:17:54, Brad Sheppard
wrote:

I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

It does when you get used to it! Again, the advantage of doing your own
cooking - you can control how much salt you add. Be aware that, in very
hot weather, you do need slightly more than if it is cold, since you
lose quite a lot in your sweat.
--
Annabel Smyth
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/index.html
Website updated 7 August 2004 - for a limited time, be bored by my holiday
snaps!

On 11 Aug 2004 08:17:54 -0700, (Brad
Sheppard) wrote:

I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

Oh dear, I know salt can cause high blood pressure, strokes, etc. but
it is one of my greatest weaknesses. I really don't enjoy my food
without it. I don't add it to prepared foods that are already
seasoned, but I do sprinkle it all over my veg and often the rest of
my meal too.

In the very hot weather we've been having, I suffer agonising cramps
in my legs at night and I've heard this can be due to losing too much
salt from sweating. Does anyone know if this is true?

janice (who looks for any excuse to increase her salt intake

"janice" wrote in message
...
On 11 Aug 2004 08:17:54 -0700, (Brad
Sheppard) wrote:

I'm quite salt sensitive. After two days of a typical "American" diet
with 6 grams of salt a day my bp went from 115/75 to 140/90. No more
salt for me! It's taken 3 days of low salt to get back to 115/75.
Low salt has another "benefit" - low salt doesn't taste as good so you
eat less!

Oh dear, I know salt can cause high blood pressure, strokes, etc. but
it is one of my greatest weaknesses. I really don't enjoy my food
without it. I don't add it to prepared foods that are already
seasoned, but I do sprinkle it all over my veg and often the rest of
my meal too.

In the very hot weather we've been having, I suffer agonising cramps
in my legs at night and I've heard this can be due to losing too much
salt from sweating. Does anyone know if this is true?

janice (who looks for any excuse to increase her salt intake



Here's an interesting article on night time leg cramps
http://www.womenshealth.org/a/leg_cramps.htm

Before I was diagnosed with osteopenia I had them frequently. Since adding
the additional calcium to my diet I'm seldom bothered with them. This might
have been my problem. I believe dehydration can be another cause - are you
drinking plenty of fluids?

Beverly

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 16:16:09 -0400, "Beverly"
wrote:


"janice" wrote

In the very hot weather we've been having, I suffer agonising cramps
in my legs at night and I've heard this can be due to losing too much
salt from sweating. Does anyone know if this is true?

janice (who looks for any excuse to increase her salt intake



Here's an interesting article on night time leg cramps
http://www.womenshealth.org/a/leg_cramps.htm

Before I was diagnosed with osteopenia I had them frequently. Since adding
the additional calcium to my diet I'm seldom bothered with them. This might
have been my problem. I believe dehydration can be another cause - are you
drinking plenty of fluids?

Beverly

Thanks Beverly, I had a look. I'm supposed to be taking a strong
calcium supplement which my doctor prescribed for me when I gave up
HRT, but I didn't take it straighta way due to issues with my throat,
probably caused by acid reflux. However, I think I ought to try
getting back on it.
I'm very bad at drinking enough, but I do drink more in the hot
weather as it's about the only time I get thirsty. I think I need to
replace the minerals I lose in sweating though. I eat a banana most
days, and I take a mineral supplement. I don't think it's an age
thing, as I've experienced these cramps in the hot weather since I was
quite young.

janice

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 16:16:09 -0400, "Beverly"
wrote:


"janice" wrote

In the very hot weather we've been having, I suffer agonising cramps
in my legs at night and I've heard this can be due to losing too much
salt from sweating. Does anyone know if this is true?

janice (who looks for any excuse to increase her salt intake



Here's an interesting article on night time leg cramps
http://www.womenshealth.org/a/leg_cramps.htm

Before I was diagnosed with osteopenia I had them frequently. Since adding
the additional calcium to my diet I'm seldom bothered with them. This might
have been my problem. I believe dehydration can be another cause - are you
drinking plenty of fluids?

Beverly

Thanks Beverly, I had a look. I'm supposed to be taking a strong
calcium supplement which my doctor prescribed for me when I gave up
HRT, but I didn't take it straighta way due to issues with my throat,
probably caused by acid reflux. However, I think I ought to try
getting back on it.
I'm very bad at drinking enough, but I do drink more in the hot
weather as it's about the only time I get thirsty. I think I need to
replace the minerals I lose in sweating though. I eat a banana most
days, and I take a mineral supplement. I don't think it's an age
thing, as I've experienced these cramps in the hot weather since I was
quite young.

janice