Stroke and Hypertension in Haitian Communities, is it because of all that extra SALT in the way Haitians cook?

Haitian Food - Bon Manje Kreyol - How do you say Diri Shela in English?

Haitians are quick to tell you "I am not a zombie, put more salt in my food" but is it that same salt that is turning many older Haitians into zombies.

Stroke and Hypertension is a problem in Haiti and in the Haitian Diaspora. Too much salt in our diet may be the culprit.

Haitians are so addicted to harreng sel (herring), morue (cod fish), and poisson gros sel (salted fish), endwi (a salted meat that gives food good taste in Haiti).

I was doing some research to find out why more Haitians are dying from high blood pressure related diseases than before and I landed on an article discussing the excess amount of salt in the Haitian diet.

You should read it: Hypertension in Haiti: The Challenge of Best Possible Practice by John G. Kenerson, MD

According to the article, the Haitian diet is high in sodium (salt) and low in potassium and that's a combination for death from heart disease.

Salt in Haitian cuisine is a component of acquired taste. Haitians put salt in almost everything they cook. Reduce the salt in the food and a Haitian will tell you 'li manke sèl' (there's not enough salt in it).

This love of salt in our diet may be because we've been using salt to preserve our foods especially the meets and fishes we eat.

With the advent of the internet, information is more readily available in Haiti now; therefore, it is our responsibility to be more conscious of what we put in our body.

What do you think about that?

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