Blood pressure and sodium intake

[kellyt]

Is the main reason we have to watch our sodium intake because of high blood pressure (or it raising our BP)?  I know it also causes us to "retain fluids".

If my BP is low to normal (on meds) is it okay to have a little salt occasionally?   Or should I just get used to blan food.

Thanks.

[thegrammalady]

there are oh so many ways to enhance the taste of food without adding salt. salt actually dulls the taste buds. if you have greatly reduced your use of processed foods which are very high in sodium you can probably add a bit of salt to other things, but you really shouldn't need to. but i do agree popcorn without salt is ridiculous.

[kellyt]

My problem is I don't know what spices go with what.   I think I'm going to go on-line and order a renal diet cookbook.  My nurse showed me one called "Cooking for David".  It looked like it had some good things.

The thing is I currently don't "second salt" or "add salt" to already cooked food, but I do cook with salt and eat items such as chips or french fries and my blood pressure is perfect!  Yesterday it was 113/76.   Now again, I'm pre-dialysis and I plan on sticking to whatever diet I'm placed on when I start dialysis.  I just don't want to cut back if I don't yet have to.    I love food!!!   

[thegrammalady]

i look at it this way, 1/4 tsp of salt in a cookie recipe means i have to eat all 5 dozen cookies to get that 1/4 tsp of salt. rice-a-roni is something like 850 ml (don't quote me) of sodium in a 1/4 cup serving. i'll use the salt when i make cookies, i no longer eat rice-a-roni. again it's not so much if you salt/don't salt your food, it's how much sodium is there in the product before you even consider putting it in your mouth.

[flip]

I like to take the Mrs. Dash Table Blend and add about 10-15% salt and shake it up real good. I use it just like I would regular salt. You still have some salt flavor but not much sodium.

[Ang]

as  far  as  i  was  aware  sodium= fluid  in  take  ,the  more  sodium you  can  be  guaranteed  your  gonna  want  fluid.

[kellyt]

I get it. 

I have the Mrs. Dash, but it's like hamster food!   I may try adding the salt to that.  I don't make box meals anymore (I haven't for a while).  Occasionally we may have mac and cheese, but that's not very often.  I'm no longer eating canned veggies (recently stopped) and I haven't had canned soup in a while either.  I need to start making better choices so that I can no longer crave the sodium and thereafter the fluid.

Anyone have a renal cookbook that they highly recommend?

[flip]

The Table Blend is actually crushed up like salt. I also like the Mrs. Dash chipolte blend as a dry rub when grilling.

[Wallyz]

I haven't liked many of the renal cookbooks.

It's easier fro me to work  with a few basic method and perfect those. 
Grilling, like flip mentioned can be done without a lot of extra sodium.  Steaming instead of boiling stuff, and then working on your pan frying skills without salt and ketchup can get you some good palatable stuff. trying to bake low salt doesn't work as well for me, and nothing with low salt/ low potassium sauces.  Bland.

Pasta works best with fresh dressing like roasted garlic olive oil and basil rather than trying to make marinara sauce renal appropriate.


slow roasting is your friend.

[Zach]

I use lemon juice and white wine often.

And sometimes a little Jack D.

Anyone have a renal cookbook that they highly recommend?

"Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods" by Katie Lee Joel.  The desserts are especially yummy.

[kellyt]

Thanks guys and gals!  Much appreciated info!

[pelagia]

And, yes, the salt will cause you to retain fluids.  The fluid is someplace, but it may not be easily pulled off during dialysis.

[twirl]

go to Davita.com recipes
they have lots and most all are good
the eggplant seafood casserole or something like that sucks

[dkerr]

Back in the 60's they gave my mother salt pills to try to control her kidney's . . how nuts is  that?








EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[flip]

Back when I was playing football in high school and college in the '60's, we were given salt pills before practice and very little water. That theory didn't work to well. Dehydration and cramps were common and it wasn't unusual to sweat out 5-6 pounds during a practice. Reminds me of dialysis.