Does Salt Increase Blood Pressure?

Sodium is an essential mineral. The main source of sodium for most people is salt (sodium chloride). Sodium is found naturally in foods and added to prepared foods. While the recommended amount of daily added sodium is 2.300 mg, most people diets high in prepared foods consume significantly more. Salt is an inexpensive flavor enhancer.

While high sodium diets can increase the risk of high blood pressure in some people, people with healthy kidneys and eating high potassium diets can consume more sodium without developing high blood pressure.

Instead of guessing if your blood sodium levels are too low or high, the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) blood test measures your levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride. In some U.S. states, you  do not need a doctors order for a CMP test. CMP also includes blood protein and calcium levels.

In this video:

• What is salt? 00:43
• Salt versus sodium. 1:13
• Sodium and blood pressure. 3:02
• Added salt and blood pressure. 3:53
• Prepared foods and sodium. 5:56
• DASH diet, sodium and blood pressure. 6:39

15 High Phosphorous Foods

Phosphorous is an essential mineral. Chemical phosphates are added to foods from cereals to sodas.  They prevent discoloration, emulsify, and are food for yeast. But, too much phosphorous can erode tooth enamel and cause kidney damage. People with kidney disease should limit dietary phosphorous.

As with most vitamin and minerals, the risk of adverse side affects and toxicity is low when phosphorous comes from a diet of minimally processed foods. The risk increase with diets high in processed foods.

In this video:

• What is phosphorus? 00:41
• Natural versus added phosphorus. 00:58
• Phosphorus’ functions. 1:20
• Phosphorus deficiency. 1:45
• Phosphorus RDA and toxicity. 2:14
• 15 high phosphorus foods. 3:25

Bulgur Versus Brown Rice

Except for fad diets, most diet experts recommend eating whole versus refined grains.

Bulgur is a parboiled whole grain wheat that cooks in a fraction of the time of brown rice and other whole grains. About 12 versus 30 to 40 minutes.

This video shares how it compares nutritionally to brown rice, some uses for bulgur, and cooking methods.

In this video:

• What is bulgur? 00:41
• Bulgur contraindications. 1:07
• Storing bulgur. 1:27
• Bulgur uses. 2:01
• Bulgur and brown rice nutrition. 2:20
• Cooking bulgur. 3:10

Economics 101: Inflation

For decades Americans have elected politicians promising free market economics with little or no government intervention. They got what was promised along with stagnant wages, low savings rate, and a bloated, expensive education and healthcare system.

With inflation rates at highs not seen for decades, consumers are blaming Washington for not controlling and reducing inflation. As the old saying goes, “Be careful what you wise for.”

In this video:

• What is inflation? 00:44
• U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). 1:21
• Supply and demand. 2:37
• Cost of goods sold. 3:47
• An unregulated free market. 5:37
• Federal Reserve interest rates. 7:46
• Credit and inflation. 9:13
• How your personal inflation rate may vary. 10:12

Extended Child

Extended Child Pose has the same physical and mental health benefits as Child Pose. Like Child Pose, Extended Child Pose is a resting pose.

English Name: Child

Sanskrit Name: Utthita Balasana

Difficulty Level: 1

Start Position: Child

Instructions:

Step 1.

From Child Pose, extend your arms in front of you with your palms flat on the floor.

Step 2.

Remain in the pose as long as it feels comfortable. Return to Child or Kneeling pose. Repeat if desired.

Physical Benefits:

  • Stretches spine, ankles, knees and hips.
  • Reduce head, neck and chest pain.
  • Opens the low back and hips.

Mental Benefits

  • Calms the mind.
  • Reduces anxiety and stress.
  • Reduces fatigue.

Contraindications:

  • Pregnancy (keep knees apart and prevent abdominal pressure.)
  • Knee, ankle or hip injury
  • Shoulder injury.

Measuring Cup & Spoon Accuracy

Several viewers have commented about making  a recipe with disappointing results.

Unlike most countries where dry ingredients are measured by weight in grams, US recipes use volume (cups). Commercial cooks and bakers rely on weight for accurate, consistent results. US home cooks are stuck with cups and spoons. The assumption is all measuring cups and spoons, regardless of price, are accurate. My research showed two apparently identical measuring cups where off by more than 10%.

This video shares how to check the accuracy of your measuring cups and spoon. To do so, you’ll need an accurate digital kitchen scale. There are many affordable kitchen scales accurate to within +/- 1 gram.

In this video:

• Why accurate measurements are important. 00:35
• Dry measuring cup accuracy. 1:12
• Wet measuring cup accuracy. 4:06
• Measuring spoon accuracy. 5:12

Diet And Direct Access Tests (DAT)

Some US states allow some direct access lab tests (DAT) that used to require a doctor’s order. These test can check for anemia, diabetes, A1-c, and some nutrient deficiencies like potassium, iron, and calcium. Although most insurance does not cover DAT, the cost is is usually about the same or slightly higher than insurance covered tests.

If available in your state, you can use direct access laboratory tests to help monitor your health and diet. DATs do not replace a doctor’s care. Discuss all abnormal results with a healthcare provider.

In this video:

• What are essential nutrients? 00:48
• What is direct access testing? 1:06
• Which states allow direst access tests? 2:20
• Why use direst access tests? 2:42
• Common DAT tests. 3:44
• Direct testing advantages & disadvantages. 6:50

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