Salt In Everything

April 24, 2008

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Sometimes it is surprising which processed foods contain salt. Tomato paste? It sneakily said 100% natural on the label of the can. In a hurry I just saw the 100% and thought that it referred to the tomato content, not that that it had other stuff in it, including “natural” salt.

I opened the can of Hunts tomato paste and spooned most if it into what I was cooking, put a small dollop in the dogs bowl (*good for a dog) and then licked the spoon. It tasted salty! Why on earth do they feel the need to add salt to things like tomato paste?

Eating a lot of processed foods and/or salting your food gets you used to the taste of salt. Then foods start to taste blander if there is no salt added. Cutting down on salt is difficult, it is addictive. It takes some willpower and time to get used to food without salt. However when you get used to it you realize how salty so many processed foods really are.

There has been some buzz recently about a blog in The Guardian (a daily UK newspaper) that states that the case for reducing salt is overstated. The tagline on the blog was, “Is it time to stand up for sensible seasoning?” She uses three tablespoons in the water to cook vegetables. I am not sure that rates as sensible seasoning.

One of the main reasons for salt reduction being advocated is due to the fact that a proportion of the population develops salt-sensitive high blood pressure. Numerous studies show that for many people who have high blood pressure, there can be a significant drop in blood pressure just by changing their diet to one that contains less salt.

Obviously there are many people who do not have any long term effects from a high salt diet. The body will eliminate the extra sodium in urine. It could be argued that decreasing salt in foods is only to benefit some and not others, and that it has the big brother aspect to it.

However, consider that high blood pressure itself has no symptoms and you might, at this very moment, be developing salt-sensitive hypertension.

*Small amounts of foods like cooked tomato and broccoli are good for a dog, too. Examples of studies, one, two.

photo credit: greefus groinks