A Bend in the Road

This blog will be making some changes. That is because I have to make some changes. I had a physical the other day and my blood pressure was high! That has never happened to me. Ever.  It used to be low, as a matter of fact. We determined that I have been retaining water, which I kind of knew and think has been a problem since I started having babies. So tomorrow I start on a water pill (bathroom, here I come!) and I have to follow the DASH diet. I have many changes to make.

But why? Why am I retaining water? I do not salt my food at the table. I only cook with salt when making pasta, potatoes, rice. Oh, when marinating meat. Oh, and baking. Oh, and eating processed foods.

The recommended maximum amount of salt intake a day is 2400 mg. If you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is my official diagnosis, it is 1500 mg. Now for some perspective. One teaspoon of salt has 2132 mg of sodium. Now for some more perspective:  this week I am sticking with my menu plan while preparing to start the DASH diet next week. Tonight I grilled marinated chicken breasts. The marinade had 1/4 cup of LOW SODIUM soy sauce. One quarter cup of LOW SODIUM soy sauce has 2,300 mg of sodium! I also cook my rice with bouillon cubes. The oil from the bouillon coats the rice nicely and keeps it from getting sticky. That bouillon cube (which is for two cups of water) has 1,780 mg. Of course I did not ingest all of that sodium, but I am obviously having too much, or my body is not efficient at processing it, so now I need to rethink my cooking altogether.

By the way, that marinade was delicious, but I am not going to share the recipe with you because it is not healthy for you.  However, I did find a recipe for a low sodium soy sauce substitute made with molasses, so I will try that with the marinade and let you know how it is.

So, I guess this blog is going to have to change too.  Hopefully with a healthy eating/clean living kind of vibe.

So here is my first healthy tip:

I love mason jars, and I have found that one of the best uses of a quart size jar is to use as a water glass. Two jars a day keeps the sodium away!