Food with low/no salt

[Alicant]

With AF and HF cut down to minimum alcohol..ie 2 small glasses over a week.However don’t add salt but everything I like seems to have loads of salt or does it? I never add salt anymore but seems to be in everything..what do others do?

[Yodayodz]

I went on to spices on the web and u can make loads of stuff with the no salt spices tgey have

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Cook from scratch wherever possible then you have good control over what you eat. The more processed the food the more additives , salt and sugar it contains, as well as fats which aren't particularly good for you.

[Traveldreams]

It’s an absolute pain to eat out or even eat bread and still keep salt low. I’ve really reduced the treats and cook most meals from scratch but everything shop bought has salt in it. Going out for a meal for Mum’s birthday and trying to juggle fat versus salt for my options. Some of the dishes have 4 days worth of salt in them.

You really would have to stop going anywhere to keep at the level that they recommend.

[Morges in reply to Traveldreams]

Hello Traveldreams. Yup - the eating out nightmare. I just don't! If I have to eat out I get a salad and a baked potato. I take a box of my own food with me if travelling. I cook everything from scratch - as my mother did - including bread in a bread maker and you can make bread with no salt or half the amount. I only buy in the raw ingredients, I make double amounts where possible so I don't have to cook every day. My family know I don't eat out. I want to know what I am eating and the provenance. When I was growing up, we only ate out if we were away from home on holiday, or had to travel for some reason - usually to visit relatives for a family occasion. My parents would not dream of going out for a meal.

Well I could go on - it's a rant I know but a pet hate of mine. Good job I like cooking eh !

[Traveldreams in reply to Morges]

Luckily I’m like you and love cooking. Yes it’s a visit for a big birthday so can’t not eat but being careful is tricky. Luckily it’s one meal for me so can graze not eat properly. Kudos if you’re a good baker of bread. Very few are including me although I can cook most things. Think there ought to be a low salt low fat option on all menus.

We’re lucky though that we have the time and knowledge to cook. Not the case for everyone and I know post surgery I’m limited by what I can lift.

[uzininemm]

If you are struggling for what to eat try the BHF recipe finder

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

there is plenty of healthy recipes, all I have tried are easy to do (from experience) and you can have plenty of variety.

[Alicant in reply to uzininemm]

Good

[bouncingsouls]

how many grams of salt per day are people trying to stick to?

My cardiac nurse never told me a figure, just referred to the BH Foundation booklet she gave me, which only really states in it to try and stick to below 6 grams of salt per day, some websites refer to it as pure sodium form which would be 2.5g sodium.

My nurse yesterday told me to just enjoy myself on holiday and don’t worry about the food, so many conflicting reports at how strict you need to be.

[Traveldreams in reply to bouncingsouls]

I think we all need to just enjoy a holiday. Some meals I was looking at are more than the recommended daily allowance for one course and that irritates me! I’d like to have a sensible option. Certainly wouldn’t stop me enjoying a holiday. I hope you’re going somewhere nice. Can’t wait to travel again xx

[valspia in reply to bouncingsouls]

1500 mg per day is the recommended amount for me.

[bouncingsouls in reply to valspia]

Is that 1500mg of sodium? Or 1500mg of salt?

As 1500mg of sodium would be 3.75g of salt

[DWizza]

Hi , I am now food police post Nstemi & quadruple bypass surgery in July last year. No ultra processed food (bacon, sausages , biscuits bread from supermarket, charcuterie , sauces condiments etc).

I make my own breads and pitas , whole foods . Eating out with family on special occasions I make best choices as it’s not often . I enjoy a beer every now and then and a glass of wine, but I have really cut back (not far off tee total) and offer to drive. I enjoy cooking so it’s no real hassle to cook from scratch . I agree with you that salt & sugar are everywhere in supermarket food.

Fish & chips is now salmon (yoghurt and spices ) and actifry chips on a Friday night 🤣

Salmon and actifry chips

[Traveldreams in reply to DWizza]

I had gallbladder surgery 7 years ago and changed my diet at that point. Low fat, low salt, never smoked, but unfortunately doesn’t cure genetic heart issues. Can only try our best and advice changes depending on who you talk too. In general I’ve always preferred to eat healthily but it isn’t that easy for everyone.

[DWizza in reply to Traveldreams]

Absolutely, the cost to eat healthy is ridiculous. Lean meat costs so much more. Anything with a healthy claim goes up in price.. the plethora of claims of keto, fasting, vegan, paleo 🤦🏼. Genetics play a huge role for some but we have still got to help ourselves. My brother is diabetic injects insulin , he’s way overweight, can’t help himself , I’m sure he has mental health issues.

[Traveldreams in reply to DWizza]

You’re absolutely correct. Need to stop the overcharging for fresh foods would save the NHS lots of money long term but there will always be some who don’t bother to try x

[Murderfan58]

Like a lot I cook from scratch. We do need a certain amount of salt in our diet to maintain our bodies. But I never put salt in cakes , biscuits or pastry never have as there is no need. Salt in bread is a preservative if making it at home you can cut it out or make soda bread . Because of disability I make enough soup with red lentils and whatever veg I have in ordinary fancy ordinary fancy and put in a teaspoon of salt it gives me enough for 6-7 lunches as I blitz it will a stick blender. Always use black pepper and herbs. Keeps in a large plastic tub in the fridge. It thickens so always add water to reheat. No bread. My dinners are a stew or pasta bake or lasagne made with either chicken breast,Quorn mince, chicken pieces or sausages browned and cut into 8. Either use pearl barley,pasta or beans with lots of veg enough for 6 dinners portioned into oven proof dishes to reheat. Again only teaspoon of salt ,black pepper and herbs.

I make my own jams , marmalades and chutneys but my way and never as sweet as shop brought or salty.

I do bake but again my way. As my neurological condition effects my limbs. The saltist thing I buy is a 400g block of mature cheddar which I cut into 8 and freeze .

My way of making cheese sauce is skimmed milk about 200ml to start with 30g p flour and crumble the cheese into it black pepper. Onto the hob bring to boil whisking all the time if it to thick add extra milk. You don't need any spread as there is enough fat in the mature cheddar and it tastes exactly like sauce made with spread. Less fat and calories and no extra salt needed.

Hope this helps.

[Bruce67]

The consultant said to me " eat what you like, just avoid the salt!"

I have started a food journal to track my food/drink intake and monitor a few key nutritional numbers ( fat, carbs, fibre, protein etc)

. It's hard when eating out or at a family/friends house...although I did get my sister in law to do a healthy roast dinner one Sunday..she didn't do too badly either 😉 .

I went to Pizza Express on Wednesday for lunch as had my grand daughter staying...yes it was more calories, salt and fat than my normal food, but I found a downloadable pdf with the entire menu broken down for nutrition monitoring...yes it takes the fun out of a meal out...but helps make a less unhealthy choice than I would have done six months ago 🤔

Salt is in everything I found, was shocked recently at stock cubes and gravy which contain mostly salt! So gonna make our own in future!

Don't forget everyone, balanced diets are what works best, so the occasional fat and salt won't do us any harm!

I have rediscovered the joys of fruit and nuts and a few other things like Ryvita ( the black pepper variety is well tasty!) and so mixing things up.

Alcohol is my challenge! I can drink cider again, and a glass now and then is refreshing. However my taste for red wine has not returned so it's a struggle to drink even a mouthful...not the worst problem to have, but when I have a steak again...I want my glass of red...even if it's a once a year treat 😉

[Traveldreams in reply to Bruce67]

You’re absolutely right. Moderation is the key. And I have a friend whose young child was hospitalised after fitting and was found to be eating a salt free diet. Easy to become obsessed about it though (guilty party here). If I get a holiday this year though I’ll be sensible but ensure no regrets and enjoy some treats x

[Bluelobby]

Hi you still need salt as part of electrolytes bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourview....

[wischo]

I dont add any salt and eat with my family quite a lot. I rarely fret about the salt content of meals unless they are really full of it. It is very difficult to eat a different meal than the rest of my family and at this stage of my life I feel that changing my eating habits to some amazonian plant diet will never reverse the coronary genetics I was born with. All in all I avoid all sausages bacon etc though eat what I deem as wholesome foods which include breads, pasta, red meats etc. This is just my opinion though I see so many people on here obsessed with what they put in their mouths to the point it would seem to me to be actually mentally unhealthy. Sorry if this upset anybody but I feel life is for living within reason while you can.

[Traveldreams in reply to wischo]

Think you’re spot on. Add in other issues (IBS and blood condition for me) and you can’t possibly keep your body happy. I’m early days post surgery so was told to eat to the max for six weeks to help heal. Now I’m trying to return to sensible eating.

I do think after the last 12 months I’ve become obsessed with controlling the bits I can. Can’t imagine how much worse I would have been if I lived alone.

Good observation!

[wischo]

I think if you keep your weight reasonable and get good exercise you will probably be as good as you can be without stressing about every mouthful of food you eat and I would imagine that with IBS adding spices to home made meals would cause you problems. I seen a post a ling time ago about a member who put up a brainwave and was having stewed victorian plums from his tree for a healthy breakfast and can not imagine that that would appeal to many people to be honest. Who decides at what amount of salt, fat etc is going to kill you and I feel a bit of common sense needs to prevail. It is just my opinion mind and agree that family are your rock whether you are sick or not. I hope your IBS and blood issues resolve soon and wish you the best for the future.

[Traveldreams in reply to wischo]

Thank you for your response. Rarely is anything as simple as it seems! We always laugh at who decides these things as no two people ever give the same response. Take care x

[Kelling]

Keep reading the labels on the shop purchased food which gives a good idea of salt content and in my case, sugar too as I am diet controlled diabetic. I was on insulin about two years before H/A but luckily for me had lost about 7 stone which left me with diet controlling my diabetes. Losing the weight probably also helped me survive my H/A and subsequent CABG which is quickly coming up to the five year anniversary.

[Alicant]

interesting range of comments…I suspect that this salt thing has become just another source of stress and anxiety.( added to the rest) so will check occasional label ( particularly if it’s enjoyable ahahah)..but in general moderation..have to have a quality of life.

PS I am envious of all you folk who say your Cardiologist said this or you will ask them…what’s a Cardiologist? Unknown to me …

[TasteLessFood4Life]

If you are eating out or buying ready-made meals - it is bound to have lots of salt. Salt is a cheap flavour enhancer, hence the widespread use.

I would recommend home-cooking and the use of exotic spices instead of salt. You will be amazed what flavours you can get. Also, once you reduce your salt-intake your palette adjusts too.