More Salt less Herbs

Every year 29th August marks More Sale Less Herbs Day. The origins of the ‘day’ itself are unknown.

But we all know about the potential dangers of too much salt and how it can affect our health. The More Herbs Less Salt Day seeks to highlight the amazing flavours you can get from adding herbs to your food instead of salt.

It is well recognised that we should be careful with our salt consumption. When we talk about salt we are referring to sodium chloride or common table salt. The recommended salt consumption over and above the salt we find in food is just one teaspoon a day.

Salt (sodium) is recognised to be a contributor to high blood pressure as the body will hold on to additional fluid to dilute the sodium in your blood, this increases the pressure. Processed foods can increase the sodium consumption in your diet and there is no need to add salt to your food most of the time.

With this in mind, I’m marking More Herbs Less Salt Day by offering a few handy tips. Small easy steps to reduce your salt intake, especially if you have high blood pressure.

Did you know?

Many people add salt to increase the flavour of food. But did you know that whilst herbs add flavour to your dishes they also have many health benefits too?

Let’s look at five common herbs and the health benefits they can deliver:

Top 5 More Herbs Less Salt & Their Amazing Health Benefits

Rosemary

Rosemary is commonly found in an English garden and adds lovely flavour to all types of roasted dishes (meats and vegetables). It has antioxidant properties protecting your cells from damaging free radicals. It also has antibacterial, properties so acts as a great immune protector.

Oregano

Oregano is often used in tomato based dishes. It is antibacterial and also anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-parasitic.

Mint

Mint is another popular English herb that can grow abundantly in our climate. Chewing mint after a meal can help relieve bloating, cramping and other gastrointestinal discomfort. Try a tea with fresh mint leaves. This is far more effective than a standard mint teabag. The benefits come from the fresh volatile oils in the leaves (put a saucer over the cup to trap the oils).

Parsley

Parsley is so often used as a garnish with dishes yet ignored as part of the meal. I always eat it and suggest you do the same! Parsley helps to freshen your breath (useful after a garlic heavy meal) and helps aid digestion. It’s a great source of vitamin C and iron (due to its rich green colour).

Basil

Basil has a special aromatic flavour that pairs well with sweet and savoury dishes. Like many other herbs it has anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to reducing the pain associated with arthritis. And like the herbs mentioned above it also has anti-microbial properties helping to keep the gut healthy.

Add lots of herbs!

My recommendation is to add lots of herbs to your dishes as collectively they provide so many overlooked vitamins and minerals and health benefits. They are easy to grow too (either in pots on a window sill or in garden beds close to the kitchen).

If you have questions or doubts about your nutrition, health problems or symptoms and not sure what to do next, why not book a free 20/30-minute discovery call with me? Simply visit www.peytonprinciples.com, call me direct on 07730 513303 or email caroline@peytonprinciples.com

My article first appeared in SMEToday

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Keep your eye out for more articles and Peyton Principles in the media.

Caroline

A little more about me…

Providing expert, personalised, health advice utilising 10 years of nutritional therapy and naturopathy experience with a strong emphasis on digestion and gut health. Zoom or face to face Consultations.

I also develop and deliver wellbeing in the workplace workshops.