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Edited on Sat Apr-25-09 03:17 PM by DUFan
I have some of those conditions also and I can't tolerate high blood pressure medicines so I have had to devise a low sodium diet. It's hard to get used to at first but I feel so much better now. The high amount of fresh foods in my diet has made my skin look five years younger and my arthritis pain has vanished.
A really good bread is Ezekiel 4:9 Low Sodium. Actually it has 0 sodium. It's fairly low carb and high fiber. I spread it with a thin layer of flavored cream cheese and pile on the veggies (lettuce, cucumbers and sweet red peppers are good). You will find it in the frozen foods section. I freeze it at home too and take out a couple of slices at a time and keep them in a baggie in the refrigerator. I'm making a pot of soup right now from Red Mill Vegi soup mix (found near the organic foods section) with Kitchen Basics low sodium vegetable broth. I mix the broth half and half with water and add carrots celery and onions to the pot.
I love spinach leaves and I use them in egg white omelets with diced tomato. I pile them (the spinach leaves) on a plate and top them with sprouts and tomato and cottage cheese and roasted unsalted sunflower nuts. They are also good with sliced apples and grapes with the cottage cheese again and nuts.
I rarely eat meat. Maybe once a week or so. I get protein from nuts and beans and egg whites and vegetables. Sometimes I eat grilled fish or chicken, I just don't like it very much. Since she is underweight, nuts would be a good choice for snacks and on salads.
Plain Greek yogurt is delicious. It is thick like sour cream and has no fat or cholesterol and is low sodium. It is good on baked potatoes and with fruit as a desert.
Baked winter squash is one of my favorites. Baking the squash brings out the sweetness and I eat it plain but she could use butter since she needs the calories.
Black beans and rice is good. I like to cook my own beans when I have time but Bush's Black Beans come in a low sodium version. Top with minced onion.
Overall, finding creative things to do with vegetables has yielded the best results in my cholesterol/blood pressure numbers. I look at it as a fun challenge, not as a punishment. The boost in energy and well-being has been a big plus and keeps me motivated.
Even though I used to love flavored coffees, I can't drink them anymore, they raise my blood pressure. I don't use any form of caffeine except a cup or two of green or white tea. There are some really nice flavors and I've gotten used to drinking them with no sweeteners. I don't use any artificial sweeteners, either. I have read that Agave syrup is low glycemic but when I tried it, it did raise my blood suger so maybe it works for some people but not others. It might be worth a try, it tastes pretty good.
The bottom line is I just don't fuss with food a lot. I use lots of fresh foods with minimal cooking. Tell her to become a food purist and insist on only the best for herself. She will find that within a few days, the desire for sugar and salt goes away and then if she were to eat those foods they would taste bad. I can't bear to eat any restaurant or fast food, it tastes like a salt lick to me. Once she gets used to the flavors of real foods and sees and feels the health benefits, it will become very easy to stay on track. Best wishes to you and her.
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