What simple healthy eating tips work for you ?

[Jeffjones297]

For instance, I start my day with a pint of water, with 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and a freshly squeezed lemon.I've found that this has eased, the mild problems I was having with bloating and heartburn.

I take medication and do so happily for other health issues but where possible, if I can use a simple home remedy to alleviate simple problems, I would prefer that to medication.

I try to restrict my salt intake and use, sea salt instead of table salt, I also track my diet and try to keep my sugar intake under 20 grams a day.

What do u do ?

[Eryl]

I avoid processed foods (even bread and fruit juices) and refined seed oils. I also restrict fruit to half a cup of berries per day. Why restrict salt? The body nneds salt has ways to get rid of excesses. youtu.be/dl5QTM7mQNY?si=JmU...(Not working as expected?)

[Jeffjones297 in reply to Eryl]

I try to limit my salt intake, I purposely avoid processed foods that are loaded with salt as I have blood pressure problems and do retain water in one of my ankles. I'm not totally sure of the mechanism by which the body excretes excess salt. But it makes sense to me to avoid excess to avoid taxing the body's systems.

[Alb2 in reply to Jeffjones297]

Very good idea to go easy with salt if you have hypertension. The kidneys excrete salt and they help regulate blood pressure. A diet that provides a good potassium intake helps regulate salt and therefore benefits BP. Whilst of course we need some salt, you are absolutely right about the high salt content in processed food. I don’t add salt to anything and my last blood test showed normal values. However, drinking water in excessive amounts will, in turn, reduce salt levels to a dangerous level. It’s all about balance with our electrolytes!😊

[Eryl in reply to Alb2]

Reducing salt for hypertension an outdated assumption, not modern scientific theory.

[Alb2 in reply to Eryl]

As a healthcare professional, I beg to differ.

[Eryl in reply to Alb2]

youtu.be/BIwhVshA1Nk?si=_rP...(Not working as expected?)

[Alb2 in reply to Eryl]

Thank you. I prefer to follow the well researched and current guidance of the NHS regarding hypertension - it is well known that there is already salt present in varying degrees in natural foods, some medications and some beverages and the conversation I was having concerned adding salt to meals. Any processed food will contain salt, as is well documented and referred to by the original poster. The relationship between the kidneys - key players in BP regulation - and salt is, again, well documented. Conversely, in occupations where people work in extreme heat, they may be given salt tablets to compensate for insensible fluid loss. As I said, everything in moderation.

[Jeffjones297 in reply to Alb2]

Very true, I have experience with a friend who was drinking water excessively and also avoiding salt. They indeed ended up in hospital, on a drip and their fluids were reduced to a bare minimum to rebalance their electrolytes, it was actually quite scary the state the person got themselves into.As well as drinking excessive amounts of water, the person concerned was on a juice and smoothie diet and exercising intently. Admittedly they lost a lot of weight but in the end we're quite ill with it !

[Alb2 in reply to Jeffjones297]

Yes, over hydration can cause apoptosis of cells/swelling of the brain. We definitely need a good water intake but excess can be fatal if not corrected. This is one of reasons the illicit drug MDMA may result in death - it can cause severe thirst in some individuals which in turn results in over hydration due to drinking excess water as they try to meet the thirst. I have nursed such people in ITU with, sadly, poor outcome. Your friend was lucky thankfully😊

[deejames]

Maybe best not to diagnose people and potentially scare them. We are not medical practitioners and should not give medical advice

[Eryl in reply to deejames]

That's why I said 'probably' because it's something to investivgate I'm not advising what to do about it so it's not medical advice.

[Screen77]

I'm trying to average my diet and focus my meals on foods that will fill me more.

My best healthy eating tip that works for me is not to buy the food I shouldn't eat. Shopping is a trial of temptation but the only thing I am more than hungry is lazy... so if I fancy downing a whole sharer bar of chocolate I won't go and get one if it isn't already in my cupboards. I'm trying to compromise with myself to not restrict too much too fast, just to substitute things in common meals I eat with things that will be more substantial and stop me wanting to snack.

The other tip I heard to help me get enough veg is that half your plate in a meal should be vegetables. It helps measure portions. I have fruit for breakfast every morning to put me on the right step and I'm trying to drink more water because it does make me feel that bit better.

I don't always win the healthy eating battle but I take the small wins where I can!

[Chris72FibroBipolar]

Hi Jeff would you mind letting me know roughly what you eat during the day to keep carbs at 20g as this is something I'm very keen to do my friend. I'd really appreciate it. Kind regards Chris