Monday, July 16, 2012

Salt Hog


"Lower Your Salt Intake" the health reports scream. It's bad for you. You'll retain water. You'll expand to Goodyear-blimp proportions! You'll die!

 
Noooooo!
So over the years, I weaned myself off salt. Whew! Close one. 

Then I moved to Egypt. The first summer I sweat so much I got dizzy and fainted (like a lot of other tourists every year). People told me to take vitamins. I did, but soon passed out again. Doctors gave me potassium pills. As indescribable things were shooting out of both ends, I found out I was allergic to potassium. Then I got anemia. Finally doctors gave me little packets that they give to millions of nursing mothers here. You mix it with water and drink it. All that's in it is: glucose, tri-sodium citrate, and sodium chloride -- basically sugar and salt. In two days, I was fine.Yay salt!
Since then, I've become a total salt hog. I'd forgotten what I was missing until I could rain the little white crystals over everything. But I haven't fainted again or gotten anemia. Still, I'm ashamed to tell you how often my husband and I buy cartons of salt ... a lot ... I think I should get one of these big machines and just pour it into a spare bedroom.




31 comments:

Kate Larkindale said...

You need more salt when you live in a hot climate because you sweat it out so fast.

Shame I don't have that excuse anymore....

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you felt better.

I like the right amount of salt. I can't stand saltless food, but I don't pour on the salt either. Spices don't always do it for me. I want to taste some salt.

Anonymous said...

Good you found out what it was that made you faint... salt does make everything taste better:)

Sally Bosco said...

Great post! I know that when I was a ballet dancer some of the dancers used to get leg cramps. The teacher told us it was because they gave up salt. I guess everything has its place.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

We do get hyper-paranoid about salt. In the US, foods are packed with it. Since I tend to avoid that stuff in favor of sugar (i.e., chocolate), my body screams for salt like yours did. It's nice to "have to" eat yummy, salty foods.

Be well.
xoRobyn

Kelly Hashway said...

I struggle with anemia. I never eat salt, except for on my eggs. I can't eat them without salt. I used to eat a lot of salt when I was younger, but for some reason I just stopped. No clue why.

Mina Burrows said...

I'm a salt fiend too, but I have no medical reason to.

michelle said...

I know exactly what you mean!!
I think that the trick is "everything in moderation"...
I remember a time when coffee was bad for your health. And then it was good for you (consumed in moderation, of course...) And the same on-again, off-again policy has applied to numerous other food types including tomatoes, pepper, ginger...
Scientists really need to make up their minds...

(Btw, I'm your "continental neighbour" - you're up above in Egypt and I'm down under in S.A. *waves*)

Carol Kilgore said...

I use less salt than I used to, but I must have it on potatoes. Without salt, they have no taste and are just mush. And I love salty snacks. Like pretzels :)

Roland D. Yeomans said...

What are pretzels without salt? Or popcorn? In the hotter locations, salt is a must. As with everything, moderation is not a bad idea though!

Thank you for your kind words on my first paragraph today. I have been visited by The Turquoise Woman (some call her Gaia) on my post which followed. Have a great new week, Roland

Mina Lobo said...

I heart salt. And I also don't do well in the heat - man, I'd never survive living in Egypt! Do whatcha gotta do and salt away!
Some Dark Romantic

Cherie Reich said...

I don't use too much salt on food, but that's fascinating that you need it to survive in Egypt.

Suze said...

Wow, sounds like you've been through a lot. Funny how one little mineral can wreak such havoc on the macrosystem.

DL Hammons said...

Salt is my friend...and I LOVE my friend!!!!! :)

Sherri Lackey said...

I try no to over use it but I do use it quite a bit. I like Celtic sea salt the best. Supposedly you get a better balance of minerals if you use Celtic sea salt, either that or they have a great marketing plan!

cleemckenzie said...

Loved your salt/no salt experience. No wonder that expression, "He's not worth his salt" came from some legion of workers in a dessert area and our word salary comes from salt. Labor, sweat, reward (salt), more labor, more sweat, more reward (always salt.) Without it there would have been nothing but prostrate workers in the sand. :-)

mshatch said...

I adore salt and probably use way too much

Deana said...

That is so cool! Not the passing out part or the craziness coming out of both ends, but that you can use salt all the time. I think I need to move to Egypt:)

Clay said...

Embrace the salt! I heard somewhere that salt helps regulate the water balance in the body - too much water without salt can make you ill. Same way they recommend that drinking pure water (as a hangover cure) is a big no no because the body needs those essential minerals more than water itself.

Cate Masters said...

Wow, never realized that about salt. I have never craved it, so don't use much, but our processed foods have so much already.
Very cool that you live in Egypt. I'm going to check out your Egyptian gods tab, as Bast is in one of my WIPs.

Stephanie@The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow said...

I never used to add salt to anything and then I went through a couple years where I was fainting on and off. Lots of tests were run and nothing seemed wrong. It turns out that I have very low blood pressure. The doctor said the best way to stop the fainting was to start adding salt to my diet and drinking more fluids. I am glad you are enjoying having salt back in your life (now I am thinking about movie popcorn with salt).

Nicki Elson said...

I think it would be the most awesome thing in the world to be told to have more salt AND sugar. Good idea about the spare bedroom. ;)

Jessica Ferguson said...

I'm a salt eater too. Of course, I grew up with my mom yelling, "too much salt! you're using too much salt!" Sometimes I hear myself yelling that to hubby and daughter. :) I get so frustrated with all the "don't do this don't do that" health rules. Hard to know what's true and what's not. Glad to read your post and all the comments. Salt rules!

Ciara said...

I'm off salt again, but when I danced at Disney I had to take salt pills because of passing out. I didn't sweat. It's funny that no one just told me to eat something with salt. LOL

Elise Fallson said...

I love me some salt too, especially on meats. When I was pregnant I craved it even more. But now I try to keep everything in moderation. I use a brand of salt that mixes in herbs so I still get a nice flavor but not too much salt at the same time.

cleemckenzie said...

Had to pop over and say hi again and thanks for posting the cover of Alligators Overhead on your website! You're wonderful.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I grew up with a parent with heart disease so the entire family had no salt. Now if there is salt on anything I can really taste it. I love the occasional indulgence though.

Dr Blood said...

This reminds me of an episode of "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum". British soldiers stationed in India were given salt pills for this very reason.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Oh, my. I guess everyone's needs are differnt, and also where you live makes a differene. I never thought about it. What works for one person may not work for another.

Patsy said...

I like salty foods as do many of my family. Maybe eating so much of the stuff is the reason my Granddad only lived to be 98?

Lauren said...

Salt is necessary for life, but so is oxygen. With too much, really weird things happen. Without it...well...

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