I never eat salt. Is this healthy?

Question

I avoid salt at all costs, and don't really enjoy it. I only ever eat it with reluctance at other people's houses when they salt their cooking. Otherwise, only the tiniest bit ever goes into mine.
PS- I hate it when people over salt their cooking. It does not taste good, because you can only taste the frikkin salt, you cant taste the actual thing you're supposed to be eating!

Answer 1

Salt is actually a flavor enhancer, but you're right, when food is over seasoned, it's pretty gross. However, I think that you need to make sure that you're getting enough iodine, whether it be from seafood, or a supplement. The reason salt has iodine added to it is because American's weren't getting enough iodine from eating a wide variety of foods, namely seafood, and people started to get goiter. Which I understand isn't fun. Anyway, just make sure you get enough iodine!!

Answer 2

If you eat anything canned or pre-packaged, or if you eat out at all, chances are you're eating a lot more salt than you think. Salt is ok in moderation, and can affect your blood pressure in excess. One important thing, though, is that iodine is added to salt. Iodine is a necessary nutrient, and I'm not sure you can get it from anywhere else. So, if you do use salt, make sure it's iodized.

Answer 3

It depends on what other ingredients you put into your food. You do need sodium to live, but many people get too much sodium, which can lead to high blood pressure, etc. Another possibility is that you might not be getting enough iodine. But depending on what else you're eating, you might be taking care of your nutritional needs just fine. I'd say consult with a doctor or a nutritionist, who can help you plan a balanced diet.

Answer 4

You absolutely, positively, without a doubt, need some salt to survive. Too much salt MIGHT cause health problems but not nearly as bad as too little salt can cause.

Symptoms of salt delinquency included:
Muscle spasms (charlie horses)
Heat stroke
Heat exhaustion
Heart palpitations
etc, etc, etc.

Humans NEED salt to survive!

Bert

Answer 5

Be smart, read labels. If you're cooking with canned vegetables, soup, etc, you're taking in more salt than you should.
Eat fresh or frozen vegetables.
And ease off the judgementalism! You don't have to add salt to meals you're a guest to, and you can control the content of most meals you eat.

Answer 6

There's nothing really wrong in not eating salt, but commonly it's necessary to have some degree of the substance iodine in one's diet, and most table salts are "iodized". So, if you get your iodine daily dosage in food or a pill, you're fine with skipping salt.

Answer 7

I agree with you! I don't think there's a point in putting salt into food when it's already perfectly fine by itself. French fries are the same way. They always come too salty for my taste, and at McD's and In-N-Out and other places they give you extra salt packages. What?!?

It's healthy to avoid salt. You already get sodium from the food naturally! :)

Answer 8

Even if you don't directly put salt on your foods, a lot of common foods already have sodium in it. Especially processed foods. Everything in moderation though. Some sodium is good for helping the body retain water, but too much can lead to cholesterol problems.

Answer 9

It is good that you don't add salt to your food. You get enough salt in the everyday foods you eat such as bread. I don't add salt either.

Answer 10

You need iodine. You must find another way to supplement your diet. Lack of the proper amount of iodine is deadly, which is why they added it to salt.