Sodium requirements and unprocessed foods

JoeyFrappuccino

Is there a minimum requirement for sodium? On days I don't eat anything processed, I only get a few hundred milligrams of sodium, but if I add anything like soy sauce or bread, that number seems to skyrocket. How did people get enough before we started adding salt to food? It makes me think it's not necessary, but I know sodium does have important functions as well. Should I make a point to get a certain amount? I don't worry when I go over but I do want to make sure I'm getting enough, if that's something to consider.

arlington21

I don't know the exact number of sodium you should be getting each day and it is important to get enough sodium. However you should take in consideration when you're eating too much salt since that can leads to health problems. I wouldn't worry about getting enough though, since its very easy to get your sodium in.

CA_Underdog

JoeyFrappuccino wrote: »

Is there a minimum requirement for sodium? How did people get enough before we started adding salt to food?

Salt's been in our foods for thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. Sodium's essential, and eating too little can land you in critical condition or dead. However, there's enough salt in our foods both natural and added that you typically only need to worry about this during endurance activities--e.g., 90+ minute events where you're walking, hiking, jogging, running, cycling, etc.

foursirius

I believe the minimum is around 500mg or so. Having a sodium deficiency is extremely bad and with today's foods it is extremely easy to reach.

BruceHedtke

I personally shoot for at least 1000mg per day but try to not go beyond 1500mg's. I think that's a good balance between getting enough salt vs. too much.

JoeyFrappuccino

Thank you for your responses. Most days I get enough, and I average more than 500mg so I probably shouldn't worry. Today though, for example, I only got 329mg even with some processed food. Things like legumes, grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables don't have enough to hit anywhere near even 1000mg/day, so I was curious whether sodium could be necessary when it doesn't seem to occur naturally in foods at the level we're recommended today. I thought maybe we produced enough ourselves, like with cholesterol. But if it's dangerous to get too little I'll be sure to go out of my way to get some on days I'd otherwise eat too little.

CA_Underdog

Things like legumes, grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables don't have enough to hit anywhere near even 1000mg/day

Carrots are a good vegetable source of sodium. I brought a bag of baby carrots with me when I went hiking in the Grand Canyon! Apparently, swiss chard is even better.