Show t i Doctor Doctorin in the Kitchen by w. w WW W. W Bauer MD MID 1 Consultant National Dairy Council SALT OF THE EARTH I J 1 There is as no higher compliment men t I than to speak of some one as th the e I salt of the earth There is n no nomore o oan more vital element in hum human an I physiology than ordinary salt sodium chloride I t f This compound is only one o of f many salts a class of chemical 1 compounds formed when an acid d jg ie combined with an alkali Yet Ye t I everyone knows what we mean bythe by bythe bythe the unadorned term salt I This salt is 15 a constituent a of f i water m-water of the soli soil of plants and of every living cell and tI s i sue aue The proper exchange of salan salt sal t in an the human body between blood I and tissues is essential to life I Its impairment interferes res with the proper fluid content of theand the tissues and with the electrical components of tissue functions When something goes wrong with the handling of salt saIt in the body there is serious trouble Essential Factor It n is the metallic content of sodium chloride the sodium that is the essential factor in the proper functioning of salt alt within the body and of Its disturbances Sodium chloride la is one of at th the e mineral elements known as elec elec- a It bears important relationships rela rely to calcium and po potassium pow tas slum alum in body chemistry Its n um Station kation is 11 related to the function n of the adrenal cortex an Important taut tant factor in AddIson Addison's disease a disturbance In salt metabolism dae cia to adrenal cortical failure More Yore common impairment o of f sodium odium metabolism is the sac sace I am e aalt loss due to perspiration I I f i in hot weather causing called so-called heat cramps preventable by the use of more salt on the food or orby orby by taking salt saIt tablets In certain forms of heart and kidney disease disease disease dis dis- ease excessive ve sodium retention may cause water logging of the tissues Habitual use of too much salt salts Is s ordinarily handled by the kidneys kidneys kid kid- without difficulty but it may be a factor in weight control Low Sodium Diet When the doctor prescribes a sodium low-sodium diet commonly called salt free he doesn't mean diet without salt saIto That would be dot dot- and impossible since salt is contained in all foods even when not intentionally sea sea- He means meang a diet low in sodium He means that he wants you to refrain from working the saltshaker salt saltshaker saltshaker shaker so hard and to cut out salty foods such as smoked and cured meats sea foods and ocean fish pickled foods and canned foods with sodium benzoate preservative preservative pre pre- added read the label He Ho may also recommend bread baked without salt unsalted crackers and dietetic fruits and vegetables canned without added salt Seasonings permitted are herbs herb onion garlic vanilla pap rika rUca parsley pepper peppermint vinegar and sodium non salt sub sub- Dairy products are usually unrestricted unrestricted un restricted in a sodium low diet except that thai sweet instead of salted butter is used and low low- sodium cottage cheese is favored over other varieties |