l have recently been diagnosed with Permanent AFib and I am now looking at my diet. I have used salt on my meals before so is there a good safer alternative to use - like Saxa So Low ?
Salt Alternative: l have recently been... - British Heart Fou...
Salt Alternative
Written by
MartynPaul
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12 Replies
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Hello 
I used to love salt or thought I did and was using low salt for ages
I still use a little bit in certain things when cooking but as for extra on my meals I stopped doing that and if someone accidently puts some on my dinner it tastes awful and I cannot eat it so you do get used to hardly having any eventually
Also when you cook add things like onions that give flavour again you can miss salt out because other foods can add flavour instead
But I as I have said use a little low salt when needed
Hope others will be able to give you some good advice x
We've been told to avoid using anything that is labelled low salt as it's high in potassium which can cause problems if you've got a heart condition. We haven't used salt for over 20 years, we substitute by using herbs & spices, fruit etc. Just recently we've discovered a mixture of herb & spices called Dukkah which is used extensively in the middle east. It has a very subtle flavour & I use it in/on just about everything from soups to casseroles to steaks etc. I recently introduced my very fussy neighbour to it as she wanted to cut down on her salt intake & she's absolutely sold in it now. You can pick it up from your local supermarket. Good luck & well done on giving up salt, it takes a bit of time to get used to not having any.
on meals I was terrible for adding salt, I use pepper more now. Not sure if pepper is a problem though like salt. Quick google implied it’s a healthier option.
In cooking I try to not be heavy handed with adding salt.
often when eating reaching for salt is a habit, don’t put it on your dinner table leave it in the kitchen / away from where you sit to eat.
We have fine sea salt now - I’m not sure but I think you get more flavour and you might use less.
👍
There are some low salt alternatives but you have to be careful with those too and they don't reduce the risks of salt in the diet that much.You also need to be careful if you choose one with potassium, especially if you have kidney problems or low blood pressure.
If you feel you need it a little rock or sea salt in cooking certain foods can be ok.
It's better to steer clear of processed foods and ready meals which have a high salt content.
Don't put salt on your food after cooking that is the thing that increases you salt intake a lot.
Seaweed flakes without added salt or a little anchovy can add a salty flavour. Finely chopped olives or olive oil can also add a salty taste as can dried mushrooms. Celery can also add a nice flavour. Fish or shellfish are naturally flavoured like salt and contain lots of good minerals, you can get dried prawns that you can grind and add to savoury dishes.
Otherwise you can use other herbs , sweeter spices like smoked paprika or a little balsamic vinegar or black pepper to add seasoning , or a dash of lemon or lime for a sharp taste.
a small amount of salt is desirable in a diet, though. There’s quite a lot of information on this on the Blood Pressure UK website.
There are certain foods that I would really struggle without using salt and I can't think of any alternatives, Eggs in any form, Porridge, tomatoes, tinned tuna and salmon to name a few. I don't eat mayonnaise or any types of dressing's . Char
Since my HA in 2022 I've stopped adding salt at the table except on chips (air fried of course 😀), roast potatoes and eggs. I don't really miss it any more and like others now find a little salt goes a long way with regard to tasting it so don't add very much when I do use it. Lemon juice can work quite well as a seasoning on some foods. We don't add as much to cooking these days either but do use more herbs and spices. Personally, I'd stick with less "real" salt like sea salt rather than go for one of the low-salt options. As with many dietary changes it can take a little while for your body to adjust and stop craving something but once it does I find you don't miss it.
Good morning Martin Paul. I remember reading that low salt is worse for you than normal salt. Can't remember the reason why now. But we are told different things all the time. I prefer my pepper these days. Brian
we gave up salt years ago when we moved and couldn’t find it! Just use black pepper now but I do put a little salt on chips once a week. We got used to it fairly quickly. I’ve never used salt for cooking vegetables either as I microwave them to keep their flavour
I went cold turkey on salt years ago but added lemon juice to boiling water for rice or pasta. Now I can’t abide anything with salt in it. Can be done and it only took two weeks to adjust.
