Danville, VA - Do you know how much salt you eat a day? Medical experts with the Danville Regional Medical Center say salt can increase blood pressure as well as risk for cardiac arrest and strokes.
A Danville Restaurant, Mary’s Diner, wants to help customers eat healthier, so they are offering a new no salt menu.
Doctors say salt is probably the most dangerous spice.
After Elene Farlow, owner of Mary’s Diner, was diagnosed with kidney failure, she decided to make some changes to her restaurant’s menu.
“I realized when I walked in the door and looked at all my food there was nothing that I could eat,” she said. “I came back and I said there are other people besides me that have this problem that can’t have sodium in their foods, we need to start this.”
Now, the diner offers meat and vegetables that are salt free, in addition to their regular menu. They say it’s going over well with customers.
“I think its a necessary thing with the people because a lot of people aren’t conscious of their salt intake and of course they eat more salt than they realize they do,” said customer Faye McDaniel.
Dr. Saria Saccocio with the Danville Regional Medical Center, says people don’t realize how much salt they consume regularly or how bad it is for them.
“Interestingly its probably the number one spice that can be the most threatening. She says just because you can’t taste the salt, doesn’t mean it’s not there,” said Dr. Saccocio. “The only way to really know is to look at those nutrition labels that are on the cans and the boxes and the jars of things that we eat.”
Farlow’s restaurant has been in business for 60 years. She says she has faithful customers and she wants them to stay healthy and keep coming back.
“You don’t realize it till all of a sudden your faced with a problem and you think I shouldn’t be eating that,” said Farlow.
Dr. Saccocio says if you’re eating out, don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant about nutrition information. Also, she says there are salt substitutes out there, spices like pepper or garlic can give added flavor without added danger.
