Potassium and Sodium?

ShaleSelkies

So I know I have to be in deficit in some stuff given I'm in deficit for calories but I've noticed even eating the same way I usually have before coming here I'm really struggling to find ways to get anywhere even close to the pre-set sodium and potassium goals and I was just wondering if this was something I should be doing something about? I know they're important and my blood pressure can also get pretty low which I believe sodium affects.

nutmegoreo

Potassium isn't required on food labels, so the database is often missing that information. Is your doctor concerned about your blood pressure? There are different reasons that it could be low. Fixing underlying conditions would be a good plan, if this is an option. Otherwise, if you need to increase the sodium, adding salt would do that quickly.

seska422

The MFP amount shown for how much potassium you've consumed is likely lower than what you've actually consumed since companies aren't currently required to list potassium in the nutrition info even if the food has it.

As for sodium, the amount you consume may not make much of a difference if your blood pressure tends to run low. That's something that you could ask your doctor. If you want to try to meet the sodium goal, look through your diary to see what had a lot of sodium and reduce your portion of those foods. Processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium.

Gallowmere1984

Most findings seem to suggest that the ratio is more important than the total quantities of them. I had a really bad bout of sodium induced water retention last month that was causing fluid blowback into my lungs. I looked like a pregnant cow for about a week. Once I looked back at how out of whack my intake was, it made more sense.

As a bit of oddness: best guess estimates put paleolithic man's sodium to potassium ratio at 1:16. This seems insane with modern foods, and honestly, unless you eat nothing but spinach, unsalted beef, potatoes, and a buttload of nuts, it's an unrealistic goal anyway. These days I'm now shooting for a 3:1 potassium to sodium ratio, and my subdermal water balance is a lot better. I don't bother checking BP regularly, but I'll give it a check today.

ShaleSelkies

seska422 wrote: »

If you want to try to meet the sodium goal, look through your diary to see what had a lot of sodium and reduce your portion of those foods. Processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium.

I'm actually more concerned that I'm not getting enough! Unless I really try I'm far under the listed goal for it and since I've heard it raises blood pressure and given that mine tends to be low in general I was concerned not eating enough would be a bad idea. (I just wanted to ask about Potassium too since they interact a lot and I figured the recommended intake would be related)
It's good to know about the potassium not being required to list though, and explains a lot (thanks @nutmegoreo for that too)

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

Most findings seem to suggest that the ratio is more important than the total quantities of them. I had a really bad bout of sodium induced water retention last month that was causing fluid blowback into my lungs. I looked like a pregnant cow for about a week. Once I looked back at how out of whack my intake was, it made more sense.

As a bit of oddness: best guess estimates put paleolithic man's sodium to potassium ratio at 1:16. This seems insane with modern foods, and honestly, unless you eat nothing but spinach, unsalted beef, potatoes, and a buttload of nuts, it's an unrealistic goal anyway. These days I'm now shooting for a 3:1 potassium to sodium ratio, and my subdermal water balance is a lot better. I don't bother checking BP regularly, but I'll give it a check today.

Thanks for the information, I'll look it up then! I actually can't find what fluid blowback means but it sounds pretty nasty so I'm glad you're doing better now.

nutmegoreo wrote: »

Potassium isn't required on food labels, so the database is often missing that information. Is your doctor concerned about your blood pressure? There are different reasons that it could be low. Fixing underlying conditions would be a good plan, if this is an option. Otherwise, if you need to increase the sodium, adding salt would do that quickly.

As for asking a doctor they aren't too concerned but I've had some bad medical system experiences so I tend to be coiled like a spring in that kind of environment anyway so I do worry that readings... aren't to accurate. Either way it does affect me on a day to day basis so I'd just rather avoid doing something which would make it worse if I can.

Gallowmere1984

Basically, I was retaining water so bad (gained 17 lbs. in three days) that it started to accumulate in my lungs, as well as my skin. Was probably in other organs too, but since you don't get obvious feedback from those (like coughing up fluid), I can't say for sure.

ShaleSelkies

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

Basically, I was retaining water so bad (gained 17 lbs. in three days) that it started to accumulate in my lungs, as well as my skin. Was probably in other organs too, but since you don't get obvious feedback from those (like coughing up fluid), I can't say for sure.

Definitely glad you're doing better then! Sorry you had to deal with that.

lorrpb

What is your average daily sodium intake and are you certain the data you're using is accurate? I encourage you to get some bloodwork and a medical evaluation before trying to increase sodium significantly on your own. It's rare for the average person to be significantly low on sodium unless they're dehydrated.

Christine_72

As other people have mentioned, always check the food data you input have the correct numbers. Just as an example, I just made a recipe that included those little 2 minute noodle packs, and the first one that popped up on the list had 0 sodium listed, when in reality one pack has 1255mg!

ShaleSelkies

lorrpb wrote: »

What is your average daily sodium intake and are you certain the data you're using is accurate? I encourage you to get some bloodwork and a medical evaluation before trying to increase sodium significantly on your own. It's rare for the average person to be significantly low on sodium unless they're dehydrated.

I haven't been tracking long enough to get an average but with what I eat pretty standardly its come out to less than a third of the reccomended. I'm not trying to up my intake though I just wanted to ask if it would potentially be a problem.

Christine_72 wrote: »

As other people have mentioned, always check the food data you input have the correct numbers. Just as an example, I just made a recipe that included those little 2 minute noodle packs, and the first one that popped up on the list had 0 sodium listed, when in reality one pack has 1255mg!

I either input the data myself or check to make sure everything's right in what I'm inputting so unless the packages themselves have large errors on them yes.