How did MFP come up with 2500 miligrams of salt

JDMPWR

As your maximum? I know I can change it but I want to see the logic behind this. After recalculating and editing all the food I eat because I was dumb enough to follow the #'s that were down for Broccoli and Purdue Perfect Portion Chicken Breasts I have realized for the last month I have been going over on my salt intake by roughly 1100-1500mg.

So I am wondering how on this earth can someone eat their all their goal cals a day and hit the protein level, carb level and still stay below the sodium & fat line? I have no real problem with the fat just the sodium.

Also you can look at my diet and see I probably eat the healthiest out of anyone on this forum when it comes to my macros outside of salt.

Can anyone answer this?

miqisha

The maximum should really be 2300 mg, MFP figure is a little higher, I think maybe a typo. but MFP didn't came up with that figure, its whats recommended by the medical profession.

It's recommended to stay closer to 1500 mg, but shouldnt pass 2300 mg. If you eat alot of processed food, or junk food, or tin food, then its real easy to reach the 2300 mg.

haleighallen

stop eating processed foods. read your labels on your food. if there's a lot of sodium in it, even if there aren't 'funny ingredients', its probably been processed. Most cheeses, most packaged meats, and many canned goods will have very high sodium content.

jamie1888

agreed with above.... I rarely come close to 2500mg salt per day. It's all the processed foods!

kristenskinner

I read an article today on salt v. sodium. They suggested that when you read the labels of you food, if there is more than 400mg per serving of sodium, to reconsider purchasing that item.

Also, 2500mg is currently recommended as the max but many medical professionals think 1500mg would be more appropriate. Sodium is in TONS of things because it acts as a preservative and it adds to the taste. It's nuts because some restaurant meals have over twice the recommended daily maximum. It's tricky but definitely worth paying attention to your intake.

amysj303

I think your diet look great, unless you have high blood pressure or hyper tension, there really isn't any reason to worry about sodium. the 2500 mg max is the same whether you eat 1200 calories or 2000 so the more calories, the more sodium you will likely get-celery has sodium. If you really want to bring it down you would have to change the chicken you are eating, but really, what's the point.
I realize not everyone agrees and says that sodium hinders weightloss by encouraging water retention, but working out make your muscle hold onto water too, I don't understand the problem, unless, like I mentioned, you have HT or HBP.

EDesq

What are you asking? Confused a bit. But if you are asking where did MFP come up with 2500mg of sodium when we should be eating somewhere around 1800mg per day, I TOTALLY agree. 2500mg is an unhealthy amount of sodium.

If you are asking how you can eat the calories you do and stay within the guidelines YOU set...only YOU can answer that. I know this, I can easily eat 2000 calories per day and stay within 1700mg sodium per day and any other total I set. You have to be willing to search out HEALTHY choices...whether low/no sodium items, cooking more at home thus controlling what is in your food.

Also, you can NEVER take anything at face value when someone else inputs anything. ALL products I eat, I read the package for calories and nutrients, so when I choose a product from the product list on MFP I can choose the correct one, OR Correct the listing. You know what they say about a data base>>>Bad In, BAD Out. Changing to a Healthy Lifestyle for Me also means NOT taking for Granted anything around My Health and Nutrition.

ginnyroxx

idk either. i'm was just talked to Binary about this a minute ago. I cannot give up my soups. I heart them too much.
My solution to this is to make sure i'm going over my water goals every day to flush it out, while trying to watch my sodium levels in other food decisions - like a fruit over snack crackers.

it's not perfect, but it's what will work for me.

AnnaPixie

If you're worried, can't you cook your own chicken breasts? Cook a batch for the week and just keep in the fridge. You seem to like them :bigsmile:

Absolutely everything you buy ready prepared has added sodium!

Having said that, I'm not sure about the 2300mg guideline. Like, why is it the same no matter how many calories you consume, you age, weight, height etc? Doesn't make much sense to me, but hey, its just a guide!

The way to really tell if its sabotaging your weight loss is to cut down for a week, then weigh! You will probably find you've lost more than you think

But, if you always eat that much sodium and always retain a similar amount of water, then it shouldn't make too much difference :bigsmile:

good luck :flowerforyou:

daylilies

I eat very little if any pre-packaged dressings and sauces and I add as little salt to everything as I can. I buy the low sodium soups (I love my soups too!) and I manage to keep it around 1000-1500mg sodium per day. Low sodium cheese--I love my cheese. Good fruits like berries.
I noticed that too, that a lot of the entries here are really wrong!

JDMPWR

I think your diet look great, unless you have high blood pressure or hyper tension, there really isn't any reason to worry about sodium. the 2500 mg max is the same whether you eat 1200 calories or 2000 so the more calories, the more sodium you will likely get-celery has sodium. If you really want to bring it down you would have to change the chicken you are eating, but really, what's the point.
I realize not everyone agrees and says that sodium hinders weightloss by encouraging water retention, but working out make your muscle hold onto water too, I don't understand the problem, unless, like I mentioned, you have HT or HBP.

At least you know how to read!!!! The rest of you all missed the boat.

Check my Food Log and you will see I do not eat processed foods for the most part. Can't go get fresh chicken every day. Thats pretty much my downfall. To heck with it. I been dropping just fine the way it is I was shooting to obtain the 2500 but it's just not going to happen. Oh well.

JDMPWR

idk either. i'm was just talked to Binary about this a minute ago. I cannot give up my soups. I heart them too much.
My solution to this is to make sure i'm going over my water goals every day to flush it out, while trying to watch my sodium levels in other food decisions - like a fruit over snack crackers.

it's not perfect, but it's what will work for me.

Glad I drink 12-14 glasses of water a day!!!!

edorice

So I am wondering how on this earth can someone eat their all their goal cals a day and hit the protein level, carb level and still stay below the sodium & fat line? I have no real problem with the fat just the sodium.

Fruit - has no sodium. I eat 2-3 servings of fruit a day.
Veggies - I use pop can low sodium green beans and baby carrots.
Protein - I add in BSN protein shake which has 21 grams of protein per scoop and low sodium.
Dairy - I've been drinking 1% milk or almond milk. Yoplait lite yogurt and 2% fat cheese.
I usually stay under 2300 mg.

Jena_72

As the others have said 2500 is actually higher than what is recommended. This is definately a learning process, so take a look at your high sodium stuff like for instance the chicken you are eating several times is it frozen and already cooked?? I am going to assume it is based on the sodium level. Maybe try cooking your own fresh breast (I suggest cooking it on the grill sunday make enough for the whole week) That would have kept you from going over today. Just little adjustments go a long way. Awareness is the key to fixing the problem! Good Luck Your doing GREAT!

JDMPWR

So I am wondering how on this earth can someone eat their all their goal cals a day and hit the protein level, carb level and still stay below the sodium & fat line? I have no real problem with the fat just the sodium.

Fruit - has no sodium. I eat 2-3 servings of fruit a day.
Veggies - I use pop can low sodium green beans and baby carrots.
Protein - I add in BSN protein shake which has 21 grams of protein per scoop and low sodium.
Dairy - I've been drinking 1% milk or almond milk. Yoplait lite yogurt and 2% fat cheese.
I usually stay under 2300 mg.

I try to stay under in sugar and try to hit 45/40/15 Protein/Carbs/Fat and stay under the 2500 in sodium while still obtaining 220-250 grams of protein a day. Do the math. It's impossible unless I spent 4 hours a day cooking and eating.

Did you look at my log? You can boldly see I take in all the macros I am supposed to.

edorice

Yeah, I just checked it out. That's why I like to get a good protein slam dunk with the protein powder. I have been TRYING to hit 40% protein myself. I see your struggle. Only other thing I could recommend other than the shakes are the Pure Protein Whey Shots. They are a little pricey, but low sodium.

http://www.pureprotein.net/pages/products_drinks.aspx
http://www.pureprotein.net/vf/labels/F050452-AE.pdf

leanmass24

Eggbeaters egg whites has less sodium then the ones you use.... Or you can seperate egg whites from real eggs and they have about half the sodium then the ones you use... it would have saved you about 600mg of sodium today

And cook your own chicken breasts with no salt just spices and you will do fine.

edorice

At least you know how to read!!!! The rest of you all missed the boat.

Oh hush, I'm at work. Doing the best I can here!

JDMPWR

Eggbeaters egg whites has less sodium then the ones you use.... Or you can seperate egg whites from real eggs and they have about half the sodium then the ones you use... it would have saved you about 600mg of sodium today

Pretty sure I compared the two and they were neck and neck in most all nutrients.

leanmass24

Yeah but if you are using 3 cups a day then the little bit of soduim adds up.

melodyg

I find that most of my sodium comes from processed foods (canned foods and eating out, mostly). I have had a horrible week with sodium because of eating soups all week. It isn't quite as bad as it looks because I've used lower sodium options but didn't always enter in new nutritional data... but still!

I haven't looked at your food diary but that has just been my experience. When I was eating more fresh fruit/vegetables over the summer it was rare that I came anywhere near the limit on sodium unless I was eating out.

(Also wanted to add. I just realized you are eating about 1000 calories more a day than I am. I think I would be having more trouble if I were eating more too. I still haven't looked at the specifics beyond EggBeaters. I'm wondering if substituting real eggs/egg whites mix would be an easy step?)

abyt42

agreed with above.... I rarely come close to 2500mg salt per day. It's all the processed foods!

Same here.

haleighallen

jtuner, I'm sorry but I can't help but be offended by some of the comments you have made in response to several others in this thread. You asked us a question, and we were giving you our honest opinions from our own experience and knowledge. I feel like you are being condescending toward what we say, and I find much of what you have said a bit rude. If you really want our opinions, then be courteous when we give them. Otherwise, don't ask, and do your own research.

JDMPWR

Yeah but if you are using 3 cups a day then the little bit of soduim adds up.

Compared the two today and Walmart. No difference at all actually. Oh well. I cut out my wheat bread for whole grain pasta. Wacked 300mg of sodium off that way!!!

edorice

jtuner, I'm sorry but I can't help but be offended by some of the comments you have made in response to several others in this thread. You asked us a question, and we were giving you our honest opinions from our own experience and knowledge. I feel like you are being condescending toward what we say, and I find much of what you have said a bit rude. If you really want our opinions, then be courteous when we give them. Otherwise, don't ask, and do your own research.

Agreed.

jamie1888

Ditto! I felt the same way! :grumble:

jamie1888

I think your diet look great, unless you have high blood pressure or hyper tension, there really isn't any reason to worry about sodium. the 2500 mg max is the same whether you eat 1200 calories or 2000 so the more calories, the more sodium you will likely get-celery has sodium. If you really want to bring it down you would have to change the chicken you are eating, but really, what's the point.
I realize not everyone agrees and says that sodium hinders weightloss by encouraging water retention, but working out make your muscle hold onto water too, I don't understand the problem, unless, like I mentioned, you have HT or HBP.

At least you know how to read!!!! The rest of you all missed the boat.

Check my Food Log and you will see I do not eat processed foods for the most part. Can't go get fresh chicken every day. Thats pretty much my downfall. To heck with it. I been dropping just fine the way it is I was shooting to obtain the 2500 but it's just not going to happen. Oh well.

If you are serious about cutting some sodium, then yes, you could look at your chicken. You don't have to buy fresh chicken every day. You can buy a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cook the whole package. They stay fine in the fridge for a few days and you can even freeze them. But, as fast as you go through them, you wont even have to do that. I buy Eating Right Bonelesss Skinless chicken breasts (always on sale) from Safeway; I think there's only 75mg of sodium per 4oz serving. Cooking your own chicken would save you a ton of sodium!

MzBug

You have to watch WHAT Perdue chicken you are buying! They have TWO non seasoned perfect portion options....one has ADDED sodium and flavor enhancers and the other does not. Make sure the package says ALL NATURAL on it towards the bottom of the yellow band on the left side. The ALL NATURAL Perfect Portion has 60 sodium, the other Perfect Portion has 350 sodium! Makes a heck of a difference.

See Perdue info here: http://www.perdue.com/products/subcategory.html?category_id=3

TracieJ65

Nice research MzBug! Hopefully it is appreciated!

Fliegenschwein

At least you know how to read!!!! The rest of you all missed the boat.

Maybe some people missed something .. like you did when you read the label on your chicken :laugh:

JDMPWR

You have to watch WHAT Perdue chicken you are buying! They have TWO non seasoned perfect portion options....one has ADDED sodium and flavor enhancers and the other does not. Make sure the package says ALL NATURAL on it towards the bottom of the yellow band on the left side. The ALL NATURAL Perfect Portion has 60 sodium, the other Perfect Portion has 350 sodium! Makes a heck of a difference.

See Perdue info here: http://www.perdue.com/products/subcategory.html?category_id=3

Thats the one I buy. No steroids, all natural and I checked yesterday and it was 350grams of sodium for that one too. Ill double check to confirm.

Added* I just checked my fridge and I got one bag of one and one bag of another. I get it out of the same bin in my grocers freezer. Now that I know this I will be sure to watch for the blue stripe at the top!!!

Thanks for the heads up.