Get the Salt Out (73 page)

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Soak in a sudsy, warm bath
and let your troubles wash away.

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Or commune with nature.
It’s healing for many people.

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It doesn’t matter how you relax, only that you do.
Determine which relaxation techniques work the best for you and use them often. Just as your diet should be personalized, so too should your stress-reduction program.

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Avoid substances that infringe on the adrenal glands’ ability to cope with stress.
The top three dietary substances that do this are caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.

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Nourish your adrenal glands with supplements.
Many people (including myself) find they cope with stress far more effectively when they provide the hard-working adrenal glands with extra support. One product I have found particularly helpful in this regard is an adrenal glandular complex called the Uni Key Adrenal Formula. With vitamins, minerals,
and adrenal glandular tissue, it contains all the elements the body needs to deal with stress more effectively.

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If you get salt cravings occasionally,
they probably are due to stress. To stave off stress-induced cravings, try taking 500-miHigram tablets of pantothenic acid several times daily. Pantothenic acid, the official name for vitamin B-5, is food for the adrenal glands, and during times of stress, the adrenals’ need for pantothenic acid skyrockets. In his book
No More Cravings
(Warner Books, 1987), Douglas Hunt, M.D., reports that pantothenic acid supplementation gives immediate relief to his patients who suffer from stress-related salt cravings.

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Other nutrients that fight stress and can be helpful
are the B-complex vitamins (known as the “antistress” vitamins), vitamin C, zinc, and manganese. For nutritional fortification against stress, choose an adrenal-supportive supplement that contains a combination of these beneficial nutrients.

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If you have trouble tasting salt,
it may be because your diet is lacking in zinc. Zinc deficiency is much more common than once thought, appearing in 68 percent of the American population and in a much higher percentage of the senior citizen population. Zinc is a mineral that is essential for developing a keen sense of taste and smell, and when it is lacking, many individuals need to add more and more salt, to be able to taste their food. I believe this deficiency is a primary reason for our country’s overconsumption of salt, so I recommend at least 30 milligrams supplemental zinc daily.

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If you take calcium or other bone-building supplements
because you want to prevent osteoporosis, remember that one of the most effective things you can do for your bones is to reduce your salt intake. Several studies have shown that excessive salt causes a breakdown of bone and an increased loss of calcium in the urine. These two factors greatly increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.

BONUS TIP:
Besides cutting down your salt intake, you can also improve your calcium status by avoiding the following: soft drinks; caffeine; smoking cigarettes; eating an excessively high-protein diet; and eating a diet high in grains and foods that contain oxalates (cocoa, asparagus, sorrel, rhubarb, spinach, and dandelion greens). As I explained in my book
Super Nutrition for Women
(Bantam Books, 1991), all of these factors adversely affect calcium metabolism and absorption and increase the chances of developing a calcium deficiency.