Low salt bread/cheese/butter

[BADGER.BRAD]

Hello Everyone,
I've recently discovered I have high blood pressure , I don't regularly drink don't smoke and if anything do too much exercise so am heading down the low salt approach to life ( my diet has been really naff the past year or so not really sure why it had changed, lots of salty crap and not much in the way of veg/fruit) Of course I'm putting this right but wondered if anyone has gone this route before that could give me tips on shelf brought bread/butter/cheeses and any other regular products which are low in salt. Every product seems high in salt and stuff you never dreamed would have salt has got it ! I've had a few trial runs at making zero salt bread which seems great but will not always be convenient to make

Any help much appreciated.

 

[stephec]

On the subject of bread, have you got a breadmaker?

One with a timer will make it simple to knock up a loaf anytime you want.

 

[vickster]

Can't you get unsalted butter? Lurpak for example?

Have you got high cholesterol too, in which case avoiding butter and cheese may be advisable

To avoid salt in ready made food, make your own, then you know how much salt is going in it cut out the salty crap

Is there history of high BP in your family, it may be that whatever you do or don't do has minimal effect. Have they put you on medication too?

 

[snorri]

I've not added salt to vegetables or porridge since starting to use the microwave.
I don't know what it has done for my health but found it made the veggies tastier.

 

[Dayvo]

I've not added salt to vegetables or porridge since starting to use the microwave.
I don't know what it has done for my health but found it made the veggies tastier.

And your porridge, too. Salt with porridge! Yuk!

Yeah, I know it's a Scottish thing.

 

[Markymark]

Pies are a good option. Vernon's pies are low salt, for example.

And he's a fine figure of a man.....

 

[SeanM]

I've not added salt to vegetables or porridge since starting to use the microwave.
I don't know what it has done for my health but found it made the veggies tastier.

"Microwave and veggies tasting better", there's a couple of words together i never thought i'd see..

 

[midliferider]

Food without salt does not make you live longer but food is so awful that you feel like living longer.

In my view what is required is change in your eating habits. Have a good home cooked breakfast such as porridge and avoid salt added cereal and bread.
If you work away from home, take home cooked food for lunch and dinner. Many people say it is so difficult because of work pattern etc but with careful planting, you can do that.
Do not eat take away and processed food.

But all within reason. If you start eating no salt food, it won't last.

I assume your weight is OK. If you combine those eating habits while cutting down the amount as well, you may be able to avoid using drugs.

 

[galaxy]

Everything in moderation

 

[annedonnelly]

Most of these things - salt, sugar - are a learned thing and can be unlearned. We never had salt on the table when I was growing up so I've never added to food on the plate. I rarely use it in cooking - scrambled eggs and a smaller than advised amount in the breadmaker. As others have said processed foods have lots of added salt & sugar. It's not too difficult to make your own soups, pasta sauces, etc. Make batches and freeze some for other days. You can add herbs instead of salt.

For a breakfast cereal Jordans do a Natural Museli which has no added salt or sugar. At first you may find it not sweet enough if you're used to sugary cereals but you should be able to train your taste buds to prefer less salt & sugar.

 

[Dayvo]

Everything in moderation

Yeah, everything!

 

[Over The Hill]

I would say the best thing to do is to just avoid ready-made food. Just about everything that is made up has high salt content in comparison to the same thing that is home made. (along with lots more sugar and fat)
High blood pressure is probably a good warning that things are wrong. So aiming for lower salt, lower fat and lower sugar plus lots more good stuff is probably the way to go. Best way I find to do this is to eat very simply but eat good food and know what you are eating.

 

[raleighnut]

A certain amount of salt is needed by our bodies, just cut out the processed/prepacked crap and cook real food.

 

[SD1]

I eat a lot of salt I haven't got high blood pressure. Is yours inherited? I suppose it's worth a try (removing salt) but it may make little difference. Come back to us either way.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I have high blood pressure whether I have salt or not, and I've recently gone back to real butter, as margarine tastes like oil, not butter.