Salt and Sodium

jasminnatale

Hi all! I read all the time limit your salt and sodium intake. It just sits in your middle. I also read if you sweat a lot then your body needs more salt. I have hyperhydrosis so my hands and feet sweat a lot during the summer not to mention my high intensity workouts.

Should I still limit my salt intake? So confused.

Thanks in advance

kommodevaran

Sits in your middle? I think you should talk to your doctor if you have an illness that might be affected by and affecting your sodium need.

nutmegoreo

^^^ This. best to speak with your doc to get better direction.

I tend to have lower blood pressure, so I don't worry too much about my sodium intake. For me, keeping that intake low increases the episodes of postural hypotension. For you, the sweating could certainly be a factor in throwing off your electrolytes. See your doc for appropriate direction.

As for the sitting in the middle bit, I'm not sure what you are saying here. Higher sodium intake will cause some water retention, but it's not body fat. For example, for example, two days ago I had a high sodium intake, weight was up 2 lbs the next day. The next day, normal sodium intake, weight was down 4 lbs from the higher weight. None of that has anything to do with my body fat.

Aaron_K123

Post I made explaining sodiums affect on your body

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10615700/biochemistry-answers-for-common-weight-loss-questions-sodium-warning-long-and-nerdy#latest

If you have specific medical concerns about sodium only way to know is to go to your doctor and get checked out. Chances are though if your urine is a normal color you are probably fine.

nvmomketo

The sweet spot for most people seems to be between 3000-5000 mg of sodium, or roughly 2 teaspoons of salt.
http://www.cardiobrief.org/2018/08/09/lancet-paper-adds-to-evidence-that-reducing-salt-to-very-low-levels-may-be-dangerous/

callsitlikeiseeit

salt doesnt 'sit' anywhere. thats some kind of crazy old wives tale BS.

for most people, there is no need to limit salt intake. obviously, you dont want to douse everything in it, but for *most* people with no high BP issues, it's not much of a concern.

vingogly

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

salt doesnt 'sit' anywhere. thats some kind of crazy old wives tale BS.
for most people, there is no need to limit salt intake. obviously, you dont want to douse everything in it, but for *most* people with no high BP issues, it's not much of a concern.

Even for some with high BP issues, I think. I've been on blood pressure meds since the mid 1980s, and have found that my blood pressure tracks closely with my degree of overweight, but sodium doesn't seem to affect it (I've experimented with varying my salt intake and noting the lack of effect on my BP).

Machka9

I agree with the others ... if salt and sodium is "sitting in your middle", you should probably see a Dr about that.

For the vast majority of us, sodium is an electrolyte which helps our bodies function and can be expelled through sweat, urine, tears, etc.