Re: Any help for salt cravings?

[Guest guest]

Lemon and celery... dehydrate and use in place of salt... or change to sea salt would help. Check the files for some ideas or the message archives for salt substitutes. SuziTerriLynne <terri_lynne@...> wrote: Hi all,I have seen lots of stuff on how to deal with the craving for sweets,its connection to low calcium, the use of almonds, almond milk, etc.,but is there any "magic bullet" for salt cravings? I can stay away fromsweets, but I just start thinking that I am going to die of starvationif I can't get something that my body craves as filling, which is prettymuch any main dish from the Standard American Diet.I'll be waiting with interest for any ideas.Thanks,TerriLynne

[Guest guest]

there any "magic bullet" for salt cravings?

I wish I knew the answer for that. I have been salt free for a month now. I mean NO salt. Food tastes bland to me. I've tried every salt free herbal seasoning etc. and nothing takes the place of some good old salt. I am not allowed any form of salt/sodium in cooking or otherwise (except a little as in celery juice). Going off sugar was easy compared to this one!

Gloria

[Guest guest]

I've been eating lots of fresh celery and if need be help with salt cravings which I don't have.

Carol,

Do you use any salt at all...in cooking etc. Any tamari, soy sauce, breads, ume vinegar, anything whatsoever that contains any salt?

Gloria

[Guest guest]

Isn't there a connection between the adrenals and salt cravings? I'll look and see what I have on info........

Becky

Some lead. Some follow. I laugh.

[Guest guest]

Terri, I've been eating lots of fresh celery and if need be help with salt cravings which I don't have. I chop it up with other veggies in my food processor for easier chewing as I have teeth issues, but works well. I never had any such cravings even sweets, but I know celery has natural sodium in it. I have survived as a vegan for close to 30 years now. I can live without the SAD! carolgTerriLynne <terri_lynne@...> wrote: Hi all,I have seen lots of stuff on how to deal with the craving for sweets,its connection to low calcium, the use of almonds, almond milk, etc.,but is there any "magic bullet" for salt cravings? I can stay away from

[Guest guest]

Hi Gloria, The only thing I am aware of that probably has salt in it, but not that I add salt to it if I was doing my own home thing is a pasta sauce I get from Wild Oats, bread I buy at Whole Foods and some prepared foods I may buy from salad bar at Whole Foods as well. I never had the problem so there was never a craving. I do eat seaweeds occasionally and I know they are salty. I do soak them before using them. I know Miso has lots of salt, but I hardly ever use that either. Ume I used to use, but not for a very long time. Yes, at our rawlucks I probably get lots of salt from their dishes, but it doesn't bother me the 2x month we meet. carolgMorningGlory113@... wrote: I've been eating lots of fresh celery and if need be help with salt cravings which I don't have. Carol, Do you use any salt at all...in cooking etc. Any tamari, soy sauce, breads, ume vinegar, anything whatsoever that contains any salt? Gloria

[Guest guest]

I know Miso has lots of salt, but I hardly ever use that either.

Sometimes when I make up some soup I'll add a little bit of miso to the broth. I use the light colored miso because the sodium content is low. It adds just enough saltiness and sweetness to add to the flavor of the allover soup. I can't say I crave salt per see (as in potato chips etc.), but I found cooking with a pinch of it brings out the flavor more.

Gloria

[Guest guest]

SaltCrave

2225 West Alice Avenue - Phoenix, AZ 85021 USA

1-602-995-1580

Newsletter & Health News

Salt and Salt Craving

The reasons for food cravings are complex and interesting. A craving may be physiological or even psychological.

This bulletin concerns biochemical reasons for salt cravings. Future bulletins will address other common cravings, such as those for sugar, chocolate, carbohydrates, fat, dairy products or meat.

Principles Of Cravings

Several principles apply in regard to food cravings. The first is that in our experience, cravings occur for definite reasons. They are not accidental or random. Often knowing a person's cravings offers clues as to the condition of their body chemistry. A corollary is that correction of the biochemical reason for a craving generally results in a lessening of that craving.

A second principle is that the same craving can occur for very different reasons. For example, both slow and fast oxidizers may crave salt, but for different reasons. Therefore, it is helpful to determine the metabolic type and specific imbalances in order to explain a food craving.

A third principle is that the body always attempts to become balanced and whole. The attempt can be temporary and ill-advised, but may be the best that can be done under the circumstances.

What Is Salt?

Today's table salt is a refined, "junk food" product. It contains mainly sodium and chloride. It is extensively refined, stripped of all its other naturally-occurring minerals. These are sold separately and the residue is sold as salt. It may be bleached white and aluminum added to keep it from caking.

Processed foods and fast foods often contain excessive amounts of this type of salt. This includes fast-food burgers, sandwiches, fries, tacos, chips and baked goods, just to name a few. One meal may contain enough salt for a week. Chinese and other spicy foods are often laced with a related product, monosodium glutamate or MSG. Salt and MSG are commonly used to disguise the lack of real taste in poor quality food.

We recommend avoiding ALL refined salt products. Their consumption may lead to mineral deficiencies, imbalances, allergic reactions and aluminum excess. One reason for salt craving may be a real need for the trace minerals contained in natural salt. Eating refined salt, of course, does little to satisfy this need.

Use only unrefined sea salt, such as Celtic Salt or other brands available in health food stores. These can be good sources of trace minerals. They usually do not cause the adverse affects associated with eating refined salt such as swelling, high blood pressure, headaches and allergic reactions.

Slow Oxidation And Salt

In slow oxidizers, the hair sodium level tends to be low due to a deficient level of the adrenal hormone, aldosterone. This hormone causes the retention of sodium at the level of the kidneys. Low aldosterone increases sodium excretion through the urine.

Sodium is a key element in maintaining fluid balance, blood pressure and joint health. Sodium chloride is changed into hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Eating extra salt may help alleviate symptoms of low sodium including low blood pressure, fatigue, feeling cold in the winter and low hydrochloric acid levels in the stomach. The effect, however, is temporary unless adrenal gland activity is enhanced as well.

Fast Oxidation And Salt

In fast oxidizers, the hair sodium level tends to be high. However, these individuals may also crave salt. Fast oxidizers are accustomed to a high sodium level. Eating salt may enhance the oxidation rate, or be an attempt to maintain the sodium level, especially as the adrenal glands weaken.

One manifestation of this weakness is a low hair sodium/potassium ratio. Although eating salt will not correct this ratio, it is possible that the inverted ratio could contribute to some cases of salt craving.

True fast oxidizers also have a more acid metabolism. This is because a faster oxidation rate produces more acidic end-products of metabolism such as lactic acid. Eating salt may help balance the pH by alkalinizing the blood.

Note that salt does not have an alkalinizing effect on everyone. The minerals in salt have an alkaline reaction in the body. However, if the salt enhances the oxidation rate, for example, salt might have an acidifying effect on the blood.

Other Reasons For Salt Craving

Balancing the pH: As stated above, the mineral content and the effects of salt on body chemistry can change the pH of the tissues and the blood. Some nutritional authorities assert that salt is used in cooking to help balance the pH of certain foods, such as grains.

Balancing Yin and Yang: According to the oriental science of balancing the qualities of yin and yang, salt has a very yang quality. Those who are too yin may crave salt to restore balance. In our experience, these are often slow oxidizers. This may help explain why some people add salt to yin foods, such as fruits or salads.

Biological Transmutation: Dr. C. L. Kervan, a French researcher, found that living organisms may transmute sodium into potassium.

Dr. Kervan's research involved oil rig workers in the Sahara desert. They craved salt and ate quite a bit. However, with careful measurement, they were found to perspire and urinate less sodium and much more potassium than they ingested.

Furthermore, Dr. Kervan found the sodium/potassium transmutation absorbs heat, cooling the body. This may explain a salt craving if one is an athlete, or working or living in a hot climate.

Many repeatable experiments appear to validate the truth of biological transmutation of the elements. Dr. Kervan's book, Biological Transmutations, is highly recommended.

Salt Substitutes

Salt substitutes vary widely. Some are mainly salt with a few spices added. Others contain no sodium whatsoever, substituting potassium or other compounds for the sodium.

Unrefined sea salt is often safe and a good choice. If salt is not tolerated well, a substitute made with potassium or spices may work.

In summary, salt craving can be complex and may be healthful, providing one satisfies it with the real item.

Copyright © 1999

Becky

Some lead. Some follow. I laugh.

[Guest guest]

onquer Even Your Nastiest Cravings!

By Bridget The craving: sweets

If visions of cookies and ice cream dance in your head, what you may be craving more than the sugar in these foods is the fat that provides their texture, taste and aroma, according to Somer. Several studies have shown that fat and sugar may release endorphins into the brain (neurotransmitters that can produce a feeling of pleasure or euphoria). This hypothesis may explain why people crave that sweet, creamy taste -- it produces a pleasurable feeling.

The solution: Guess what? Good old-fashioned exercise also appears to boost levels of endorphins (they’re the same substances credited with the so-called “runner’s highâ€). So next time you feel like biting into a chocolate-covered ice cream bar, lace up those walking shoes or hop on your bike instead. You’ll get the same pleasing feeling and the benefits of doing something good for your body. If you’re on the job or unable to get immediate fitness gratification, you can still get the creamy taste and texture you yearn for from low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit.

The craving: salt According to Somer, many women experience salt cravings related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) since fluctuating levels of estrogen can interfere with the normal salt concentration in the body. Unfortunately, cravings for salt often result in the consumption of foods that are not only high in sodium -- dangerous for anyone with hypertension -- but also heavy in fat (think chips, French fries, pizza). Some studies have shown that people who are deficient in calcium crave salt more frequently than those who are not. And Somer suggests the desire for salty foods, such as chips or pretzels, may have more to do with the wish to crunch than the actual salt.

The solution: Try upping your calcium intake (which will also benefit your bones) with low-fat dairy foods or leafy greens. And reach for crisp, fresh, munch-able foods, like baby carrots or bell pepper wedges -- they make great stand-ins for that pretzel or chip crunch. If you can’t forgo the salt, eat just one serving of low-fat, whole-grain pretzels