There is WAY too much SALT in everything....?

Question

Why do companies put so much salt in everything? It's terrible. It really pisses me off too because I am tired and buy something that looks really good and then cook it only to find out it's pure CRAP with pounds of salt. Do people know how BAD salt is for you? It causes high blood pressure and heart disease and makes you retain water...I know they do it to preserve food but I really am losing my taste for salt and for anything but natural foods these days...but I don't have the time to cook and think it's a shame that we have to kill ourselves and our kids in order to consume food.

By the way salt (SODIUM) is in everything, even pop and even WATER! It's like they are trying to kill you on purpose!!

I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Anytime I buy ANYTHING that I don't make at home it tastes like Sh*t, and so salty I might as well have a glass of seawater. Did you know the maximum amount of sodium you should intake is 500 milligrams? Look at the labels. A hotdog has 700. Pop 80. I've seen stuff as high as 1300 mgs of salt.

I'm not stupid those of you with your smartass answers who know nothing but science 101. I am here to tell you that these friggin manufacturers are KILLING you all. When you hit 30-40 and are diabetic (as 1 out of 2 children will be in the next 10 years) and your BP rises and you can have NO SALT WHATSOEVER...wait and see...you will be paying for it. How can you say anything salty tastes good? I even make my own potato chips so I don't have to buy that crap they sell in the stores.

You got it Fergy...once you get rid of it from your diet you can enjoy all the other wonderful things like oregano, garlic, thyme, marjoram, basil, rosemary, lemon, lime....the list goes on and on...there's a reason people are beating down my door to be invited to dinner at my house...nothing but the best cooking happens here. The only think I ever add salt to is pasta...can't stand pasta that isn't boiled in a bit of salt...but other than that...no thanks. My health is perfect by the way...my grandma lived to 105 and my parents are 90 and not a pill ever.

Yes ph you are right...and that is my point...thing is there are two things people go for....sugar and salt...none of which appeal to me! :~) You get more than enough without even trying.

Answer 1

I agree, there is definitely WAY too much salt in most pre-packaged and prepared foods that we buy.
And it's so important to be careful about not eating too much of it!
My husband had a bad case of kidney stones last year, primarily because of an excess of salt in his diet. We've both had to mahorly change our diet since then, but let me tell you, it's next to impossible to find foods without salt, and if you try buying the "low sodium" things, they taste like garbage. (don't even bother tasting the low sodium V8 for example, it's SO NASTY!!)
The best things you can do are to buy chicken and meat that is plain, not marinated, not seasoned, just PLAIN! And frozen veggies are a good bet too. Buy unsalted butter, and try different herbs and spices rather than salting your food. (some of the Mrs. Dash flavours are actually pretty good! The lemon pepper on steamed or broiled fish for example.)
Anyhow, good luck eating healthier, and cutting out the salt.
By the way, if you cut down on caffeine and alcohol, which both dehydrate you, you can kind help with the water retention problem cause by the salt, it kinda frees up more liquids to dissolve the salt.

Answer 2

I wouldn't go to that extreme...people DO need some salt to regulate their water supply (yes it's possible to have too much water). However, I do agree that salt should be eliminated from lots of foods and spice mixes or at least reduced. I have a hard time finding cooking mixes (like meat rubs) that don't list salt as the primary ingredient.

Answer 3

Salt is the "accidental spice." It was never intended to be used for taste; just preservation before there were freezers / refrigerators.

Once you stop cooking or buying food with added salt, you really notice it when it is used.

Read the label and refuse to buy anything with high salt content of added salt. Unfortunately, buying prepared food with low salt is next to impossible!

Answer 4

I am a salt-a-holic; I don't think they put in enough!

My parents never had salt in their house and they complained that I was a picky eater. I was just picky because everything tasted so boring!! Then I went away to camp and tried roast beef with salt on it...I was in heaven! Food wasn't boring anymore after that!

I don't really care how bad it is for me. I have a chronic autoimmune disease and will likely die from that before sodium. So while I'm still alive I want my food to taste good!

Answer 5

Actually it's not salt that is the problem persay, but it is the type of salt they use in everything that is the issue. We need a certain amount of salt in our diets, there are cases of salt deficiency especially now that everyone has stopped eating salt. You see if companies used natural sea salt instead, it would not be harmful, the stuff they use is just pure chemical and it's a poisen, what we need is good quality sea salt in our food. all food manufacturers need to use this stuff! find out more .......http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/salt.htm

Answer 6

processed food is processed food. Yeah it sucks, but companies are in a competitive market, they have to be the MOST flavorful, and what is a cheaper way to flavor things? salt. So that they can shove the profits down their overflowing pants. It's best that you make things from scratch. Life is really busy, but have you ever tired cooking in batches and freezing? or using crock pots.... give those a try. or buy natural pre prepped stuff to save time, like frozen pre-cut onions and peppers, etc. Or make a sauce and freeze in lil containers. So when you bake marnated chicken, heat up your sauce and rice and go!

Answer 7

Try buying frozen vegetables instead of canned. Frozen veggies are packed right at the source and do not contain salt or preservatives. They are like fresh when thawed.

I agree, it's a conspiracy out there to destroy our health and make the big pharmaceutical companies rich off our poor health.

Answer 8

Salt makes everything taste better and tasty things sell more. So if the less salty things don't sell well, the companies have no incentive to change. It's all in the sales for them.

Answer 9

Don't have time to cook. I have found many ways to whip up healthy meals in no time at all.

Maybe you should just try to re-prioritize. Cooking is not difficult. Just plan your meals, do preparation for 2 or 3 meals at the same time. Trust me, I often spend 3 or 4 hours on a saturday cooking up tons of food. I use a Food Saver and have packages of my own pre-cooked healthy meals. Whip out some veggies and voila ---- a meal.

Answer 10

Salt makes it tasty, and salt is very cheap.

Doctors will tell you to completely eliminate table salt, even though people need some salt. Because store bought food has so much, its safe advice.