I have always loved salt. But, as I got older I began to pay dearly for it. I would overdose on it. My body wouldn’t be able to handle any more of it and my lower back would start aching (kidneys.) My ears would start ringing (tinnitus?) and feel plugged up. It would affect me for days until I vastly lowered my salt intake. This goes for even the pure pink Himalayan salt. So, what is a good salt substitute?

Salt is everywhere! It is hidden in most sauces and about everything that comes in a can, bottle, package, box or bag! Although, salt tastes good and enhances the flavor of just about anything you put it on, it is not good for your kidneys and heart.

Try putting this in your salt shaker instead

1. 2 tablespoons black pepper
2. 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3. 1 tablespoon onion powder
4. 1 tablespoon paprika
5. 1 tablespoon ground oregano, bay leaf or Italian spice
6. 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Salt alternatives are tomatoes, celery and lemon

Extra tips

1. I put a couple shakes of hot sauce on my beans and rice
2. I squeeze lemon on my steamed broccoli and other vegetables
3. Use apple cider vinegar on your green salad
4. Buy your nuts roasted, but without salt
5. If you don’t use condiments or anything processed in a package, it might not hurt to put a few shakes of salt on your food instead of using something like soy sauce or bottled salsa

Avoid salt substitutes which are high in potassium. Don’t waste your money on phony salt. You can use herbs, spices, garlic, lemon, lime, and vinegar. Don’t add olive oil (or any other refined oil) to your vinegar as a salad dressing. No oil!

Use these on potatoes!

1. Dill, paprika, parsley, sage, garlic and/or onion

I know that personally, one meal having a lot of fat, salt and sugar can affect me in a very bad way. These are low nutrient meals which can trigger your old addictive hunger drives. In other words, one of these meals can make you start eating wrong again.

These bad foods are very powerful and it’s like they take over your common sense and mind. Did you know there are more cardiac (heart attack) related deaths on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 over other times of the year! Is that huge meal worth our lives? We need to find substitute food that’s healthier. Meet plant based whole food.

The unhealthy addictive culprits

1. Refined bread, pasta, and sugar filled desserts spike blood glucose levels (promoting diabetes and other chronic diseases)
2. Meat, dairy, and all refined oils can harm or impair endothelial function (inside of blood vessels)
3. Salty junk food snacks, beer and wine will increase the negative effects of a poor diet (alcoholic beverages tend to increase blood sugar [glucose] when eating a refined carbohydrate meal.)

In other words, high salt, fat and sugar meals all damage our cardiovascular system in each of their own unique ways. One holiday meal could possibly clog our arteries to the point we have a stroke or heart attack and die.

I know how difficult it is going to be to look poor old grandma in the eyes who worked so hard on that Christmas dinner you don’t want a second serving! So, good luck on that one, I can’t help you out there. You are on your own! 

Note- contact your doctor before you change your diet.