Salty Temptations

Salt is a main component to many snacky foods across the globe. It works pretty well in making you want to eat more of the snack, because we crave that salty sensation, and also grab the nearest drink, usually soda, in order to quench the thirst.

What is one to do when teased by the salty temptations?! There are a couple of things to know about salt before attacking it though...

First of all, athletes, for the most part, unless you have a health condition or hypertension, salt will not hurt you. In fact, for the most part, it will help you replenish the electrolytes lost in sweat. There is salt in sports drinks for a reason. This is also why salted pretzels are great to munch on before working out. As an athlete, over consumption of salt will not hurt your game. Most people are different when it comes to salt tolerance levels, but this is only in reference to hypertension. Just remember to wash down that salt with some water!

From my own opinion, the Recommended Daily Allowance for Sodium is next to impossible to accomplish everyday. We are surrounded by salt in every food we eat. Unless you are focusing deeply on no added salt or eating a majority of your food from the garden and not from the can or bag, you will struggle here. For the most part, one hot dog alone with no ketchup and no bun will give you more than half the recommended salt for one day...ridiculous. There are increased health benefits for increasing potassium intake and decreasing salt intake, see DASH diet, but for the most part, this is difficult and requires much more time/money/energy. Overall, I don't like even paying attention to salt in my diet. It doesn't concern me and my athletic lifestyle acts for that.

Upon saying these two things, let me explain how to squash your salty snack problems. First, control the food around you. Basically, look at your environment and don't put snacks there. Second, check out the "healthier" salty options: peanuts, almonds, pretzels, popcorn, etc. Or, what you could do is replace your snacks around you completely with fruit, vegetable snack bags, or nothing at all! Finally, when snacking salty, never follow up with anything but water. Make it one of your rules. "If I eat salty, I drink only water." No problem.

For me when it comes to salty foods, in order to stop the urge, I imagine just salt. Literally I imagine eating like a block of salt alone. It's disgusting sounding. When I realize this is what I'm craving, I no longer need salt and have more control over what I pick. I don't want a salt block, I want a peanut butter and jelly. I don't know, but it works for me!

In the end, I want you all to snack. If done properly (see my other posts), you can eat less through out the total day. For this post specifically, just don't let salt alone be the reason you continue to munch! Ciao amici!