How quickly will salt affect fluid retention?

[Love100cats]

I'm really good at salt free cooking at home. No problems at all but my daughter in law is an amazing cook and a couple of times a week brings me a home cooked meal, usually lasagna or cottage pie. She knows about my problem with salt but I think like many she feels it can't hurt just once in a while. Wednesday I had her lasagna. Delicious but the next morning I felt very water logged and had foot swelling. It's hard to get back to where I was again. Would salt have that affect so quickly? If the answer is yes then I will have to work out a strategy to avoid the problem. I don't have a dog, live alone other than with Maverick my cat and he doesn't eat foreign food.😋

[Sunnie2day]

'Hidden' sodium/salt hits me within a few hours and it takes days to get back to normal. Your DIL needs to check her ingredients to see if she's accidentally using ones with 'hidden' sodium/salt - she may think she's cooking you lovely dishes that are low-sodium/salt but if her ingredients have that hidden bit you'll get the consequences despite her good intentions. For example, does she know sodium/salt can occur naturally in fruit, veg, and meats (especially mince)? I love celery but it has such a high content I never eat it or use it in recipes.

My DIL is on an even more strict restriction than I am so when we're together I have to be really careful I'm not accidentally giving her a meal with more than she can have. When we lived close together I used to take things over thinking I was making her life a little easier but my grandson finally confessed she couldn't eat what I was bringing. I felt horrible, apologised profusely, and stopped taking her any foods at all. I give her vouchers for spa days instead now.

If talking to your DIL doesn't end the problem or you can't talk to her without it causing a feud (I have a SIL I have to be very careful with), you're going to have to start binning or giving away her offerings. Your health is what is important over any family peace considerations.

[Love100cats in reply to Sunnie2day]

Your opening words were just what I needed. It's what I expected but needed someone to confirm it and I'm sure there are many more who could do the same. So the ball is in my court and I have to deal with it somehow. I'm not prepared to poach or steam most of what I eat including fish, chicken eggs etc and feel comfortable to eat one meal which will undo all my hard work. I think people don't realize how much salt they are using. I add none at all to cooking nor at the table but my husband was a tinker adding what he described as a pinch when he thought I wasn't looking. So onwards and upwards! Thank you 😊

[Sunnie2day in reply to Love100cats]

I live for summer - BBQ is my speciality! I don't need seasoning, just that lovely grilling gives the best tasting food. I do 'steam' on the grill using tin foil parcels next to the meat.

Oh dear. I'm drooling on the keyboard!

[Hidden in reply to Sunnie2day]

Me too, my stomach is growling

[Hidden]

Yes excess salt/ sodium can affect certain people that fast. I can put on 3-4 lb overnight after eating high sodium foods. I think you need to be honest with your daughterinlaw. Tell her it is hard for you to complain but your health requires that you do. If I was your daughterinlaw, I would want to know the truth. She will want to give you food that helps you, not hurts you. Be brave, your honesty will bring you closer together. Just admit up front it is a difficult conversation for you and then say it. I have 2 daughterinlaws, I understand your dilemma. Good luck.

[Vivi2711]

SALT is the main culprit whether it is direct or indirect. It has the quality to retain fluids & normally diuretics loose the fight to drain the fluids when the war is against SALT. Moreover eating with less salt continuously for a period of two to three months makes your taste buds adapted & less salt will become delicious. But when you break this intermittently buy often taking more salty foods your taste buds will never get adapted.

The first & foremost enemy to the heart is SALT.

HANDLE WITH CARE

[Love100cats in reply to Vivi2711]

I agree totally and because I steam food mainly it does taste so good even the fish I used to find a challenge now I love it that way. I don't even like the taste of salt so what is the problem? My daughter in law looked after my husband until his death in December and now looks after me part time. She is so caring but doesn't get the message and becausecshe gives me a portion of what she cooks for the family it is for me VERY salty. So I can throw it away as she is not here when I eat. Or I've got a new kitchen going in this month including a new cooker. An opportunity to start fresh and lay some ground rules by saying how much better I am and how close I'm sticking now to my salt free diet. Sounds like a plan?

[Vivi2711]

Can understand your precarious position. All the best

[FeetheBookworm]

Salt is a problem - I had to cut it out completely to start off with, but within a month had to add a wee bit back in. Now cook as normal but I don’t like the taste of salt much, so I am quite miserly with it. My husband on other hand (former heavy smoker) pours it on. And uses it lavishly when cooking.