SODIUM!!!!

lucass45
lucass45 Posts: 7 Member
in Food and Nutrition
How bad is sodium in your diet and can it be off set by drinking a ton of water? What is a proper goal to stay under? New to dieting so need to be educated. Thanks

Replies

  • ejbronte
    ejbronte Posts: 867 Member
    As a short, "older" female, I seem to encourage high blood pressure when I indulge in too much sodium, so I'm very careful about it. It does retain water in the body so will affect the scale for a few days. Not sure how much liquid at at a time (if any) will help flush it out, but it would be fun to know.
  • superlauren11
    superlauren11 Posts: 20 Member
    If you're inclined to having high blood pressure or any other medical conditions, you should watch your sodium intake. If you don't, then don't worry about it!

    Potassium, water, and exercise can offset sodium! I'm not sure to what extent though.
  • sparklyglitterbomb
    sparklyglitterbomb Posts: 458 Member
    edited April 2016
    In my own experience, my sodium is almost always lower than the macro indicates on here. But I also cook most everything, don't eat too many prepackaged things, and don't eat out often anymore. This is all due to personal taste - I love to cook and, to me, most packaged foods taste awful. Processed foods usually rely on sodium for flavor, it's cheaper than adding more spices, etc.

    As far as how good or bad it is - I hate how it makes my fingers puff up when I get too much of it. Any other medical reasons, I'd ask your doctor if there is a concern.
  • lucass45
    lucass45 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks peeps. Very helpful information
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    superlauren11 wrote: »
    If you're inclined to having high blood pressure or any other medical conditions, you should watch your sodium intake. If you don't, then don't worry about it!

    Potassium, water, and exercise can offset sodium! I'm not sure to what extent though.

    +1

    I like to sweat and am healthy so I don't worry about mine
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Health Canada recommends 2400 mg of sodium per day in total. If you don't have a medical condition that's affected by high sodium, I wouldn't worry about it.
  • zezelryck
    zezelryck Posts: 251 Member
    I have had open heart surgery twice in my life. The last time I had it my heart consultant told me he has salt on every meal. He basically told me that it aint too good for you but nowhere near as bad for you as smoking, or doing anything to else (ie alcohol) to excess. I have lost over 180lb and enjoy a sprinkle of lo-salt on most of my meals. It might kill me one day but at least I quit smoking lol ;-)
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    When I eat high sodium, I will go for high potassium foods.
    Low sodium v8 is my go-to.
    Not a bad thing to keep in your fridge.
  • lucass45
    lucass45 Posts: 7 Member
    Awesome!!!! I don't have any heart issues so I won't freak out so much when I go a little over.
  • Hope228
    Hope228 Posts: 340 Member
    zezelryck wrote: »
    I have had open heart surgery twice in my life. The last time I had it my heart consultant told me he has salt on every meal. He basically told me that it aint too good for you but nowhere near as bad for you as smoking, or doing anything to else (ie alcohol) to excess. I have lost over 180lb and enjoy a sprinkle of lo-salt on most of my meals. It might kill me one day but at least I quit smoking lol ;-)

    Congrats on quitting! It took me 11 attempts to finally do it.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    The recommended daily allowance of sodium for all is 2300mg. For people suffering high blood pressure, the recommended daily limit is 1500mg. Actually getting under either of those numbers means that you'll mostly eat stuff you prepared at home of Low-Salt and No-Added-Salt ingredients.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    lucass45 wrote: »
    Awesome!!!! I don't have any heart issues so I won't freak out so much when I go a little over.

    Great! You can set the food diary to not even display sodium. Just stay within your macros.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    edited April 2016
    Too high or low can be a problem. This is an ok article with decent sources:

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/lowering-salt-intake-harm-good/story?id=30139911

    Anecdotally, I can add that while extremely limiting sodium a couple years ago (<1000mg/day), I had an incident where I stood up after tying my shoes and just passed out. Got a nifty concussion knocking my head off the floor too. My primary care physican believes that the extremely low sodium level in my system allowed the sudden drop in blood pressure to happen.


    ETA: I'll be anywhere between 2500 to 3500 a day and be content.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    edited April 2016
    Hope228 wrote: »
    zezelryck wrote: »
    I have had open heart surgery twice in my life. The last time I had it my heart consultant told me he has salt on every meal. He basically told me that it aint too good for you but nowhere near as bad for you as smoking, or doing anything to else (ie alcohol) to excess. I have lost over 180lb and enjoy a sprinkle of lo-salt on most of my meals. It might kill me one day but at least I quit smoking lol ;-)

    Congrats on quitting! It took me 11 attempts to finally do it.

    Quittin's easy ... I done it a million times. :/

    Congrats to both of you.

Categories