I have diabetes and high blood pressure and am looking for a salt substitute. I bought NoSalt, but the label said people with diabetes or high blood pressure should not use that. What are others without the high potassium level?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
I don't much like salt substitutes, to be honest. We have tested a few
and they just aren't all that great. You are correct that most
are made of some variation on potassium salts, and this can pose
a problem for some folks who have health issues where they need
to limit potassium. At the same time, most salt substitutes leave a funny
metallic aftertaste in the mouth.
I much prefer that folks learn about sodium and salt. Depending on your specific issues, limiting sodium to between 1,500 and 2,000 milligrams is what most doctors recommend. By keeping track of your sodium intake you can enjoy food and not have to worry about using replacements for salt. There is good evidence that over time your taste buds will learn to need less sodium in your food for foods to taste salty enough.
Do your salt taste buds learn? : The Health of It All
It's key to know how to read food labels and there's more about salt here:
Hold the Salt : The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan Coaching Essays
How to Look at Sodium on Food Labels : The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan Coaching Essays
You can find more information on low sodium diets here:
Eating Healthy on Low Sodium (Salt) Diets
Every recipe on the Dr. Gourmet website has information on the amount of sodium in each dish.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, M.D.
Dr. Gourmet