How Concerned Should I Be About Sodium?

laratacita

I've logged my food since starting. I'm sure it's not terribly accurate because I have not been able to find a food scale. For the moment, I'm losing weight and continuing my search. I also realize that my problem is largely due to eating processed foods. (This is mostly due to convenience. I am also a picky eater, which further limits my food choices.)

Now, I rarely, if ever, come in under the sodium intake. I know too much sodium can cause water, but how much leeway is there? There are times when I go way over, particularly if I decide to ingest a meal at a fast food restaurant for some reason.

Secondly, despite being over, I've also been craving salty foods. I am guessing this might be an electrolyte imbalance, giving the cramping I've experienced in random areas lately, but I'm not entirely sure.

Ldbg289

Truthfully I'm only really careful on my salt for a day or so after eating out. I hardly ever am under my sodium goal either. I do weigh most of my foods(dinner is a little less strict as I do not usually cook dinner)

pbbagel

I would be more concerned about eating processed foods than sodium if I were you.
Craving salty food can be due to an electrolyte imbalance... do you eat enough fruit and vegetables? Bananas are good for electrolytes. Also you should drink plenty of water, if you're thirsty it can make you crave salt.

hbrittingham

When I was younger, I didn't watch my sodium intake either. As I've gotten older, I've started retaining water more easily and get puffy around my eyes if I overindulge in foods high in sodium, so I do watch it now. If you have high blood pressure, you'll want to watch it, too.

Unknown

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Hell_Flower

Ultimately and long term effects.

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/salt/Home/Whysaltisbad/Saltseffects

Now, I don't agree with the sweeping statement that "salt is bad", because the body needs sodium and salt to regulate and function properly.

What it doesn't need is very, very high doses. Too much of anything is a bad thing.

It's all about balance - unfortunately, eating 3 ready meals or fast food in one day and then drinking 2 litres of water isn't going to balance it out. You don't have to cut them out completely, but maybe try reducing them and replacing with something a little more fresh...veggies etc.

srslybritt

What Brett said, basically (dang it, you and your good contributions).

I have noticed that if I go way over on my sodium, I'm bloated for at least a day after. But that's only if I don't drink enough water. Unless you have concerns about cardiovascular issues that you either may have or might run in your family (which you should be discussing with a doctor), sodium is pretty much a nonissue, imho. I don't even have it as one of the defaults in my diary. I just decided that and sugar weren't things I needed to concern myself with, since I was losing weight in spite of being over on one or both nearly every day.

phil4v7

There's some research from Denmark that sodium limit may be too low:

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20140402/cdc-salt-guidelines-too-low-for-good-health-study-suggests

I'm not saying who's right and who's wrong, just tossing out some additional reading material. "Science" used to tell us that leeches and head drilling were valid medical remedies. Hyperbole, yes, but "science" has also changed its mind many times over the years on how healthy eggs are. So read the information available, make as informed a decision as you can and keep working to better yourself. I personally think focusing on my weight loss is more valuable to my long term health than focusing on the sodium, but just by eating out less, I'm sure my sodium intake has gone way down.

laratacita

What it doesn't need is very, very high doses. Too much of anything is a bad thing.

It's all about balance - unfortunately, eating 3 ready meals or fast food in one day and then drinking 2 litres of water isn't going to balance it out. You don't have to cut them out completely, but maybe try reducing them and replacing with something a little more fresh...veggies etc.

I'm not eating three fast food meals a day. I don't think anyone is. Processed food != fast food.

The fluid intake has been high for the past few days, but I think this is more that it's been *summer*, and it's been muggy outside. Also, 16 cups is 2 quarts. Quarts != liters.

laratacita

Given the cramping problem, I'm heading towards the idea it's an electrolyte imbalance. The doctor wanted to draw blood to confirm this months ago, but I lost insurance and haven't been able to afford it.

tuckerrj

Depends. . . What's your blood pressure? If you're blood pressure is okay and you're not experiencing edema, there should be no concern. I eat 4 - 5,000 mg of sodium a day and my blood pressure stays below 120/70, with a pulse rate in the 60's. Until I have a problem, it's not a problem.

MityMax96

it is needed.

Just be aware that wild swings in consumption, can lead to water retention....so you get a bloated look to you.

happens to me....

laratacita

Most of the days I'm between 2,500-3,500 milligrams. If the roommate brings in KFC, it may spike. I've been avoiding this restaurant chain for a while. I know I'll lose any self-control if it's placed in front of me. I've also avoided several other of my favorite foods for the same reason.

My blood pressure is usually slightly below textbook perfect most of the time, so there are no issues there. So, as long as I'm not eating salt tablets, I shouldn't worry about it.