How much salt to increase blood pressure? - Page 2

[thefreckledmama]

Regarding low iron-if you're drinking any black teas, you may want to cut them out, as black teas block iron absorption. Basically no matter how much iron you're taking it, your body isn't getting it. I found this out a few years ago when I tried to donate blood and my iron was low. I was shocked because I have always had a lot of dark greens, red meat, cook in cast iron, etc. That's when I was told about the tea, and I rarely if ever drink it anymore, and haven't had any issues with my iron since.

Just something to look into.

As for the salt intake/blood pressure relationship-the Brewer Diet has a lot of info about this, especially in regards to pregnancy-also worth looking into.

ETA: I'm paraphrasing, but the Brewer Diet basically says that a woman's taste buds are the best measure of how much salt she needs-and one should salt their food to taste and not place any restrictions on it except in very specific circumstances.

[dannic]

Originally Posted by Ambivalent Dreams

dannic: Was that one pinch a day? ETA: About how many of your glasses of water do you add salt to each day? Or is it less than 1 a day?

About sea salt vs table salt. The thing I don't like about table salt (and some of the "processed" sea salts) is that they have anti-caking agents such as yellow prussiate of soda. I don't really care if my salt has been heated, but I don't like it to have other stuff added to it.

A pinch of salt under the tongue once a day and then I do also add to my water--just a tad--I don't taste it; as well as salting food to taste.

Originally Posted by Ambivalent Dreams

Oops. Sorry, I didn't see the last two posts before I posted for some reason. I am 16 weeks. At my apt last week, my blood pressure was 90/70. The time before it was 90/68. I do get dizzy and my vision kinda goes dark when I stand up quickly and when I get up to go to the bathroom at night. I'm really sluggish, but I don't know if that is b/c of the blood pressure or iron or both. I'm not even sure my iron is low, but I have been having some wacky cravings and I was anemic during my last pregnancy. That with the fact that I have no energy make me think that's whats going on again this time. I went to the store last night about bought some red meat and am having black beans and brown rice for supper so I'm trying to attack this on all fronts.

Have you considered your adrenals? Adrenals could be causing a lot of this, and they also need salt to function properly. Check out the adrenal fatigue thread in health and healing--lots of good info there!

Also, as far as salt intake goes, if you live in a hot climate or are very active, you may also be wasting salt. We answer yes to both the above and my mom and dd have both tested deficient in sodium. Just another thing to consider...

[ScarletBegonias]

hello people, sea salt has been the only salt in use for thousands of years until recently.

i don't understand the "it's very well marketed argument".

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

hello people, sea salt has been the only salt in use for thousands of years until recently.

i don't understand the "it's very well marketed argument".

I agree. I'm not going to get into the debate because I'm not very knowledgeable about salt, but this seems pretty black and white to me. I don't understand how anyone can argue that something processed is just as good as something not processed.

As for salt intake, I think it's pretty common to be low on sodium. My mom was recently told to increase her salt intake, and was told that so many people think it's bad, that when wanting to eat 'healthier' salt is one of the first things they cut out. She was told to use sea salt and add it to her cooking water and salt food to taste.

[MyFillingQuiver]

FWIW, years ago I was extremely toxic. I had been misdiagnosed, and filled with prescription drugs and chemotherapy. I was 21 and dying of poisoning.

I discontinued tx with the military, and found a DO/naturopath. I had never been treated that way-like I was a human being and that there was a "whole" me-not just a jacked up lab result!

Anyway, one of the things he said was the most important, was to level out and build up my nutrient levels once again. My kidneys had been on the brink of total failure, and obviously my electrolytes were messed up, as well.

He handed me a large bag of very dark grey sea salt. I had never even seen such a thing-maybe the commercial type used for cooking, but these were these large rocky beauties. He told me to try a piece, and I about fell over from his recommendation. I had been on a "no sodium" diet from the MD's because of my kidneys and so many other disease processes as a result of the misdiagnosis. It tasted so different from "salt" as I knew it. He told me I simply couldn't use too much of this...since I was being placed on a targeted macrobiotic detox diet, he told me to freely use it, but to continue to eliminate sodium in packaged/canned foods, and avoid table salt.

I still today love real sea salt, and strive to use it freely in cooking and on fresh foods. I believe it was instrumental in balancing all my issues-along with so many other good choices then.

I'm no scientist, but I believe he knew what he was talking about when he said, "this stuff is what our bodies are largely made of-and your body is starving for it"...

[kosheng]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

hello people, sea salt has been the only salt in use for thousands of years until recently.

i don't understand the "it's very well marketed argument".

exactly.

Originally Posted by MyFillingQuiver

FWIW, years ago I was extremely toxic. I had been misdiagnosed, and filled with prescription drugs and chemotherapy. I was 21 and dying of poisoning.

I discontinued tx with the military, and found a DO/naturopath. I had never been treated that way-like I was a human being and that there was a "whole" me-not just a jacked up lab result!

Anyway, one of the things he said was the most important, was to level out and build up my nutrient levels once again. My kidneys had been on the brink of total failure, and obviously my electrolytes were messed up, as well.

He handed me a large bag of very dark grey sea salt. I had never even seen such a thing-maybe the commercial type used for cooking, but these were these large rocky beauties. He told me to try a piece, and I about fell over from his recommendation. I had been on a "no sodium" diet from the MD's because of my kidneys and so many other disease processes as a result of the misdiagnosis. It tasted so different from "salt" as I knew it. He told me I simply couldn't use too much of this...since I was being placed on a targeted macrobiotic detox diet, he told me to freely use it, but to continue to eliminate sodium in packaged/canned foods, and avoid table salt.

I still today love real sea salt, and strive to use it freely in cooking and on fresh foods. I believe it was instrumental in balancing all my issues-along with so many other good choices then.

I'm no scientist, but I believe he knew what he was talking about when he said, "this stuff is what our bodies are largely made of-and your body is starving for it"...

hmm. amazing recovery~ congratulations!! and i'm certain that with "processed" salt, you would NOT have had the same amazing results!!

[kosheng]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

I agree. I'm not going to get into the debate because I'm not very knowledgeable about salt, but this seems pretty black and white to me. I don't understand how anyone can argue that something processed is just as good as something not processed.

As for salt intake, I think it's pretty common to be low on sodium. My mom was recently told to increase her salt intake, and was told that so many people think it's bad, that when wanting to eat 'healthier' salt is one of the first things they cut out. She was told to use sea salt and add it to her cooking water and salt food to taste.

and this, too!

[Kidzaplenty]

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

hello people, sea salt has been the only salt in use for thousands of years until recently.

People have mined salt since the time of the early Romans...

*creeps away again*

[Kidzaplenty]

While I agree that sea salt has not been the only salt (meaning there was land mined salt), I think the "spirit" the arguement is the same.

And I, too, was a bit stunned that there seemed to be an arguement that the processed stuff is just as healthy as the natural stuff, especially here.

And, I am not sure how "unprocessed" the "sea salt" is that is sold in stores right beside the table salt.

I use pink Himalayan salt. And I have to say, it does taste so different. I can add a lot to my food and it does not taste over salted like when I add a bit too much of the table salt. I have never tried the grey sea salts, but then I am guessing I may be allergic (I have heard they contain sulfur and I am allergic to that). But, I have been wanting to try some different ones to check it out. It is interesting how all the natural salts contain a bit of their home in them. A bit OT, I guess, but it is interesting.

[Ambivalent Dreams]

Thefreckledmama: Thanks for the tips on the Brewer diet. I’ll look into that. I don’t really have the taste for salt much. I don’t usually salt my food before I eat it. I’m not drinking any teas, coffees or sodas. When not pregnant I drink a lot of black tea, but I have had an aversion to tea ever since my BFP. I don’t ever drink coffee or soda even when not pregnant.

Dannic: Thanks for the extra info on salt “dosing” and I will read up on adrenal fatigue.

MyFillingQuiver: I'm so glad you found that naturopath and are healthy now. What a happy story.

Now I’m all interested in these different types of sea salts… pink, grey… I’ve never given any thought to the color before. I'll be in Houston this weekend and I know they have some good food shopping places. Maybe I'll check out some different kinds of sea salts.

Thanks, ladies, for all your input. This has been very interesting.

[thefreckledmama]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

I have never tried the grey sea salts, but then I am guessing I may be allergic (I have heard they contain sulfur and I am allergic to that).

Sorry to go off topic, but are you also allergic to Sulfa drugs? I've been told by different doctors that yes, if I'm allergic to Sulfa drugs then I'm allergic to sulfur, and that no, they're not related.

Not wanting to run the risk of a reaction, I've avoided sulfur, but it'd be great to know for sure.

ETA: Now I feel silly for not just searching the internet before now. FYI, yep, Sulfa drugs contain Sulfur-kind of scary more than one doctor didn't know that.

[Kidzaplenty]

Yeah, I am allergic to sulfa drugs as well as sulfur. (I always say I am allergic to vulcanoes as when I am near any type of vulcanic cloud or leftover dust I have a near aniphlactic reaction.) I am constantly amazed by the doctors that try to tell me that sulfa drugs or drugs that warn of reactions to sulfa allergies will be perfectly safe for me. You wopuld think they were smarter than that.