Toss the Salt this Summer!

Cut your family’s risk for high blood pressure and kidney disease by limiting salty foods this summer.

You can enjoy your barbecue and improve your family’s health by adding low-salt dishes to your cookouts this summer.

Fresh meats such as beef and chicken, for example, have less salt than processed meats such as hotdogs, sausage, bacon and ham.

Consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and kidney disease.

“One in nine adults has kidney disease, so it is critical that we start introducing our children to low-salt diets,” said Jan Miller, executive director, National Kidney Foundation serving Upstate New York. “Families can significantly improve their health by just reducing their salt intake by a half teaspoon per day.”

Here are tips for cutting salt from your summer barbecues:

• Throw that cut of beef on the grill – just don’t slather it in salty marinades and seasoning.
  
  
• You could concoct your own seasoning and marinades, swapping out salt for spices such as garlic, onion powder and pepper. (See recipes below.)
  
  
• Visit the farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables for those salads and sides.
  
  
• Hide the salt shaker. Keep that watermelon and corn on the cob salt free.
  
  
• Fresh meats have less salt than processed meats. But eat red meat in moderation. Healthier grilling options include turkey burgers, salmon fillets and shrimp kabobs.
  
  
• Limit the salt you add to cole slaw and macaroni and potato salads.
  
  
• Offer low-sodium baked beans and unsalted popcorn, pretzels, tortilla or corn chips.

“Our concern is that many people are unaware of their risk for this debilitating disease,” said Carl Devore, M.D., associate medical director, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Kidney disease, after all, is usually a ‘silent’ condition with no symptoms until it is too late. Anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes is at risk.”

Most people don’t get their salt from the salt shaker, but from packaged and processed foods and restaurant meals. Federal guidelines advise most people to consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily. Kidney disease that is found and treated early can prevent more serious complications, such as heart attacks, strokes and death.

Low- or no-salt summer recipes

Grilled vegetables with olive oil: Cut washed vegetables into small pieces. Brush them with olive oil and put them on kabobs or wrap them in heavy duty foil and put them on the grill. Large vegetables can go directly on the grill. Zucchini, squash, asparagus, peppers, and mushrooms grill well and are delicious when marinated, drizzled with oil, or seasoned with spices. Skip the salt.

Seasoning recipe: Blend the following ingredients in a shaker and sprinkle on your food: 5 teaspoons onion powder; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon paprika; 1 tablespoon dry mustard; 1 teaspoon thyme; ½ teaspoon white pepper; and ½ teaspoon celery seeds.

Dry rub (use instead of bottled marinade): In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup each of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and ground pepper. Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a clean and dry mason jar and store tightly sealed until ready to use. When you are ready to use the rub, pour out the amount required and rub and press the mix over the meat. Wrap meat in foil and store overnight in the refrigerator.

Cucumber and watermelon salad: In a large bowl, toss 3 cups of peeled and cubed (1/2 inch) seedless cucumber and 3 cups cubed (1/2 inch) seedless watermelon with 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. Serve immediately.

Cole slaw: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, ½ teaspoon celery seed and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Toss this dressing together with one package of cole slaw mix. Serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Potatoes on the Grill: Add 1 pound of small new potatoes (cut into quarters, not peeled) to a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon paprika and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper on potatoes. Cover, ajar, (so steam can escape) and microwave on high for five minutes. Stir after 2 minutes. (You can par boil potatoes if you prefer not to microwave.) When the barbecue is hot, arrange potatoes on foil sprayed with non-stick cooking oil or use a grill pan. Close hood and cook for 15 minutes, turning the potatoes as they brown.

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For more tips on staying healthy, visit www.excellusbcbs.com.