E numbers

[pigletwillie]

Have you ever wondered when the E numbers were in your food.

This will tell you what each E number actually is.


E508 Potassium chloride, just another way of hiding the salt content of food or am I just cynical?

[wizard]

your not cynical your spot on as most people dont know what e508 is just look on kids ready meals next time your in a supermarket.

[scared55]

On the positive side, at least a E number tells you that a food additive has been looked at and tested by someone who ought to have some idea, and found to be safe and acceptable.

On the negative side, it suggests that the plant in which it was made is not of the type that has ever seen soil (or am I talking about hydroponics there?)

KK

[moggssue]

E numbers scare and confuse me If only I could avoid them ......

[wizard]

i think thats hydro ponics where most tomtoes are grown thats why there taste less.

[smallblueplanet]

E508 Potassium chloride, just another way of hiding the salt content of food or am I just cynical?

In this case yes.

Its the sodium in sodium chloride (common salt) that mainly causes health problems. When you use something like 'Lo-salt' there is less percent total NaCl and the rest of the salt is potassium chloride.

....potassium chloride causes a person to produce saliva and enhances the taste of food much in the same way salt does. If used to excess, potassium chloride can leave a bitter aftertaste.

One-half teaspoon of salt substitute equals the potassium found in one large banana, one-half winter squash and one cup of orange juice or 1 large potato. A word of caution about potassium chloride salt substitute. You need normal functioning kidneys so that the excess potassium is excreted. A high potassium level in your body is as dangerous as high sodium.

Here's an interesting link to sodium & salt and health topics. We've been trying to cut down our 'salt' (sodium) intake but its everywhere in processed foods!

Ask the Dietitian - by Joanne Larsen MS RD LD - Salt & Sodium

Couldn't belive that a tin of organic spaghetti in sauce from the Co-op had 4g of salt in it!!! Why? Totally un-necessary....

[allotmentlady]

we avoid E numbers and also check each meal etc.......i like the fact that they put on fat content ono the label.

[wizard]

i agree blue planet i use low salt at home and sea salt at work as this does enhance the flavour of the food and then thers everything in moderation but 4g in a tin of food is quite alot !!!!1

[allotmentlady]

Yes Wizard sea salt is best, I use it for cooking but only when preparing meat etc.....lovely with roasted tomatoes, basil, chicken topped with bacon and cheese.

[wizard]

swap the salt when cooking broccoli with chopped anchovies and chillie instant salt and pepper chuck some fresh garlic in as well and wow omega 3 as well yum lol

[Paul Wagland]

Got any other tips on avoiding sodium chloride SBP? What foods are good and bad?

I would have thought I'd have quite a good idea of this, but the spaghetti suggests otherwise!

[smallblueplanet]

Ahh Paul W thats spag in tommy sauce, not dried pasta. That link I put up to 'salt & sodium' has a piece towards the bottom talking about levels of sodium in certain veggies - celery is quite high...also there's sodium in baking powder.

So I'm a bit concerned here, we were trying to cut down on sodium intake thru using less 'ordinary' NaCl/salt (sea salt or otherwise, they've got sodium in them). But it seems I might have to look a bit deeper into it, although there's a bit in that link that suggests low calcium and potassium might be a problem as well as high sodium.

The OH gets nervous as middle-age passes, there's a history of strokes in the family, so low sodium is a start on the healthy living bit! Whatever next, exercise?

[wizard]

o bu**** just boiled my pasta over to much time on here lol. the only way to make sure that there are no additives in your food is to grow it yourself or buy organic which as you well know can be very expensive so i say cook it all your self and then you know what goes in it .all foods are good in moderation

[wizard]

you still need sodium in your diet for one it stops cramp just not as much as they put in prosessed food .

[smallblueplanet]

Yes you do need sodium in your diet - but enough can be gotten from unprocessed foods apparently. (Oh and the tin of spag in tommy sauce was organic - but still 4g of salt! That kind of 'organic' isn't good for you! )