I'll confess. I don't like salt.

I don't salt at the table nor when I cook nor do I buy salty foods, in general. I always find that salt covers up the natural flavours of a food rather than "accentuate" them.

Nevertheless, I know several people who love salt who battle with hypertension and they're told to cut back on salt intake. From what I've read, they should be having more potassium also. The main salt substitute that I've seen out there is potassium chloride (KCl) and many prepared foods use KCl in place or along side of NaCl to give lower sodium counts.

Is KCl really such a great product for people (low sodium, high potassium) or is it so chemically similar to NaCl that it's not really helpful or even harmful (like a fake sodium count)? Is there something else I can suggest to try other than spicing? Keep in mind that some of these people also like to liberally salt fast food, like McDonalds or Jack In The Box.

I don't get the obsession with salt, but I'm sure that many of you know of someone (or many someones!) that have to deal with this. Any thoughts?

I don't know about KCI. I've tried a salt substitute and it doesn't seem to taste like anything. I have learned that salt is something that the more you cut back on it, the less you like it, and the less your body tolerates it.

Potassium Chloride is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too fucking bitter to replace salt fully. A half and half mixture isn't too bad, and the "seasoning salt" KCl is decent.

If you're looking for flavor with low sodium counts, I'd recommend "Mrs. Dash" spices and seasonings. They're pretty flavor-packed, but still very low sodium as far as things go.

I would suggest:
1. Potassium Chloride for those who "just HAVE to have" their salt taste
2. Mrs. Dash (tastes great on just about everything)
3. Spike (Similar to Mrs. Dash, less pepper. Usually found in health food stores)
4. Ground ginger (Tastes great on lots of things, even ones you wouldn't think to try it on. Also has an immune system boosting effect.)
5. If bacon is a staple in your cooking/on your plate, try the Morningstar Farm's veggie bacon: my mother hates veggie meat substitutes, but loves this stuff. It has half the sodium of regular bacon, more potassium, and much less fat and cholesterol. Don't forget, most that are hypertensive also have a problem with either fat or their cholesterol as well.

My mother is hypertensive. We (sister+me) grew up without cooking with salt or really even eaten overly salty foods. But, it did have a down side when I was 13 and playing ice hockey: I would sweat a bunch and replace the potassium, but not the salt component lost. Ended up with cramps in my legs. Started eating either cheese or fries with what I call heavy salt (less than most fast food places put on theirs though) and was fine.

Wow, there are salt substitutes? I guess living in such a bad country as here, prevents you from getting the privileges of having salt substitutes and drinking Kool-Aid :P

IMO, food should never be salted, or very very little salt should be added if it can't be eaten without salt.


Extreme Coder

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. I'll have to pass this info on.

Pi-Rat:Would you suggest buying dried ginger and grating it when needed like you would with nutmeg?

Extreme Coder: Thank you!
I thought I was sort of strange for not salting things. Good to see someone else think that way too

You could do that. I've only ever been able to get a hold on fresh and powdered ginger. This isn't exactly the best area for anyone that doesn't like salt and meat.

Reminds me... need to get more ginger! I used it all on my tofu and couscous at dinner.

I guess I'm lucky where I am. There's just enough in terms of health food stores and ethnic markets to get most of what I need. Some things do have to come from the internet or take a couple hour trip for the nearest good spice store...

I love spices. It makes everything interesting and you don't have to throw salt in to make up for flavor (well... except if you seriously eff-up )

Yup, especially in BBQ food. The more spices in it the tastier



Extreme Coder