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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be concerned about my DSS salt intake

32 replies

yellowumbrella · 14/05/2014 14:13

The other day I caught him adding salt to a cooked pizza.
He is 19.
Food 'doesn't taste right' without adding a shite load of salt to it. He knows it's bad but just laughs it off. Dp doesn't see the problem, I'm generally concerned for him, he doesn't like my suggestion of seeing a doctor incase of underlying issue.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 14/05/2014 14:15

At 19 its up to him if he wants to add salt surely?

Its not ideal but its his choice. I add salt to my food, I know I shouldn't and I have cut right down on the amount but its my choice to do so

Icelollycraving · 14/05/2014 14:17

Yabu. At 19,I would have not been impressed for you to suggest seeing a dr on the basis I added salt to a pizza!

NigellasDealer · 14/05/2014 14:17

I thought you were talking about a 2 year old or something

Canus · 14/05/2014 14:21

Loads of people add salt to pizza.

I 'caught' my husband adding salt to my lovingly seasoned shepherds pie the other night - the only underlying condition he suffers from is having no appreciation of my culinary prowess Grin

WorraLiberty · 14/05/2014 14:21

I added salt to a bag of Morrisons ready salted crisps yesterday

No need for me to see a Doctor unless they want a discussion on how much tastier Walkers are.

Original poster
yellowumbrella · 14/05/2014 14:22

Yeah I know he's an adult and it's his business but we have a good relationship and I am worried about his health. Every single meal he'll absolutely cover his food in it

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 14/05/2014 14:23

Hide it?

Otherwise it's up to him. He could be married and in his own home at 19. He's an adult

Canus · 14/05/2014 14:25

If he starts covering his meal in dope, it'll be time to suggest a doctor.

A taste for salt is about the biggest non-issue I can think of.

NigellasDealer · 14/05/2014 14:26

My DD always demands the salt and says it is 'because she is Polish'

TheHoneyBadger · 14/05/2014 14:30

random share but i am, and have always been a big, a big salt eater. it turns out i have really low blood pressure - not as in unhealthily low but as in below the level that shows on charts as it's so unusual for anyone to have that low that the stop the graphs at a higher point.

now of course i don't know if my salt needs relate to my low blood pressure but it does make you think. certainly it hasn't given me high blood pressure and i can't help but think god knows how low it would be if i wasn't, 'do you want some chips with that salt honeybadger?' type person.

one size does not fit all in health/diet etc ime.

Wheresmypassport · 14/05/2014 14:33

My grandad used to put loads of salt on his food and lived till he was 98, although he was slim, didn't drink or smoke so otherwise quite healthy. At 19 you can tell him it's bad for him but then it's up to him, he's an adult.

Nocomet · 14/05/2014 14:35

Pizza does not need salt, 19 or not, he would not be passed the salt pot here.

Putting salt on pizza is teen silliness and he most certainly should have grown out of it.

TheHoneyBadger · 14/05/2014 14:48

i like salt on pizza. not 'silliness' i just feel a need for it.

also if i was visiting family at an adult age and they refused to pass me the salt pot because they still felt the need to exercise that level of control over me i doubt i'd be visiting again any time soon.

TheHoneyBadger · 14/05/2014 14:49

guess it depends whether you value your uppitiness about food habits more than you value being polite, respectful and minding your own business.

DrFunkesFamilyBandSolution · 14/05/2014 14:51

I like salt on stuff. Lots of salt. I add salt to fish, from the home of salt!
Would he try Parmesan cheese instead?

How is his diet other than salt love? Does he smoke?

GreenShadow · 14/05/2014 15:05

I would be concerned too OP.

19 may be technically an adult, but that doesn't mean they all have the understanding, experience or even common sense of an adult.

I have DSs of a similar age and would definitely try as hard as I could to get them to reduce their intake. Unfortunately, I assume he has grown up having had a high salt diet, in which case, it is like an addiction and will be quite hard to cut back on.

Theodorous · 14/05/2014 15:09

Do let me know when the inevitable poster comes on and googles this. How many 19 year olds have actually died from putting salt on their food. Lucky some people are so perfect, the rest of us are still alive but presumably have less dents in their backs from begged pattings. MYOB.

TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 15:11

I put salt on pizza and even toast. I like the taste. Other than that I hardly have any.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/05/2014 15:15

Your DSS is what's known as 'salt tolerant'. These people eat so much salt that they can't actually taste it until it is at eye-watering concentrations. It's usually seen in older people with failing taste-buds but people used to a lot of processed/takeaway type food can find 'real food' very bland by comparison. It's not necessarily indicative of a medical problem but excess salt consumption can put a strain on things like kidneys, result in over-concentrated urine, put him at risk of bladder infections and he could end up very bloated. Over time you're looking at BP problems and that puts a strain on the heart.

What's his general diet like? A lot of ready-made/processed stuff or a good range of fruit and veg etc?

Amethyst24 · 14/05/2014 15:20

Nocomet if you refused to pass me the saltcellar, as an adult capable of making my own decisions about what I put in my body, I would be extremely tempted to poke you in the eye with it.

Theodorous · 14/05/2014 15:25

I rest my case.

TheIronGnome · 14/05/2014 15:25

Technically an adult but still a teenager... I'd be very concerned- most food shouldn't/doesn't need any salt added.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/05/2014 15:38

What case would that be Theodorus?... I'm pointing out that there are some real downsides to having an excessive amount of salt in the diet & it's not exactly new information. That doesn't mean the OP should make the young man do anything about it... 'he knows it's bad' after all.... but it doesn't mean he is suffering from a medical condition either. However, if he does end up with kidney stones, the OP can afford herself a smug look.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 14/05/2014 15:44

If the pizza was a ready made one, there was probably shitloads of salt already in it, and sprinkling some more on the top would have only been a tiny extra amount.

Something like 80% of the salt we consume is already in processed food, even things like bread, ham and breakfast cereal, in addition to ready meals, pizzas etc, so the best way to cut down on salt is to eat less of these things.

I always make a Hmm face, when I hear of people refusing to use salt on things like home made mashed potato or fresh cooked vegetables, but never worry about all that already in processed foods.

nannynoss · 14/05/2014 15:47

At that age I used to eat salt straight out of a sachet. Loved it. Now, I don't even cook with it. Just outgrew it I guess. I would have probably just eaten double the amount if someone told me not to...!

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