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LETTERS: Paul P Glasziou Sodium reduction is enticing, but what is the full recipe? BMJ 2007; 334: 967 [Full text]

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Home cooking is the answer!

STANLEY SHALDON   (11 May 2007)

Home cooking is the answer! 11 May 2007
STANLEY SHALDON, Retired Professor of Medicine Monaco 98000 Send response to journal: Re: Home cooking is the answer!	Clearly, Dr Glasziou was never instructed on how to explain and counsel a family on a low salt diet. Basically, it is more difficult today than 40 years ago as life styles have changed and processed food has replaced home cooking. However, as I still advise patients on how to achieve a low salt intake I would suggest that if the domestic conditions are appropriate that the family all go on a low salt diet and eat at home or take sandwiches prepared at home when eating out. Firstly, avoid all food that is obviously salty to the taste (sensitivity to salt tasting is reduced in chronic salt addicts, usually from the time they were weened). Secondly, no added salt in home cooking, thirdly read up on the original Mediterranean diet and avoid all processed food. Eventually when your taste buds return to normal the other flavours (so down regulated by the salt) will be appreciated and a burning sensation in the mouth will be noticed when the salt taste bud is overstimulated and one will have achieved a state of salt detoxification. The process will take up to 6 months to achieve. After that, eating out will be possible as many good class restaurants do not add salt to their cooking, as it destroys refined tastes and your patients will not hunger for salty food. Indeed they will find it inedible. Man does not need added salt to his food, anymore than his chimpanzee cousin. Competing interests: None declared