consistently over sodium...

chanstriste13

yep - almost everyday. however, i am losing weight consistently and i drink 12 servings of water per day. i know it's naughty, but i don't feel much inclined to watch my sodium if things are working well. however, does anyone know if this will eventually come and bite me in the *kitten*? am i being horrid to my body? i don't feel like i am, but i've never given much thought to sodium besides glancing at my little red number in my journal. i grew up in a home where we salted our pizza (yeah - for real), so i feel like i'm doing pretty darn good! any thoughts?

lvnspoonful

Bump - I am always over my sodium too....

crystal10584

sodium = water retention. i'd limit it and try to avoid as much preprocessed food as possible.

callipygianchronicle

Check out this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/217891-give-me-the-straight-dope-about-sodium

The response might help explain why sodium is bad for you, beyond the effect it has on the scale.

therealangd

Salt is not good for you. I think you know that. It's bad for the heart and blood pressure.

That being said, A lot of sodium AND being obese is very very very bad.

You are working on losing weight. and it's working for you. Just keep in mind that at some point, the high sodium is going to be detrimental to the weight loss. But for now, do whatever works.

aml31

Yep, I'm over it almost every day also. Sometimes I get way over on sodium and still way under on my calories so it makes me kinda confused on what to do!! :huh:

Naomi91

This is how I look at it:

Let Salt Work for You

Bodybuilders often make a fuss when someone recommends salt as part of a diet, but keep in mind that sodium is a major mineral your body needs. Salt regulates metabolism by increasing the body’s ability to store carbohydrates in muscles. Generally, greater carb storage yields greater mass gains. That’s why bodybuilders who eliminate salt in hopes of getting ripped for a competition often fail to look the way they hope to. A lack of sodium reduces the body’s ability to make muscle glycogen, and too little glycogen leads to muscles devoid of fullness.

In addition, salt helps amino acids and creatine pass readily into muscle cells, creating growth. We’re not suggesting you shovel in salt at every meal, but you don’t need to worry about buying low-sodium foods. And if you feel like a dash of salt on your steak or rice, go right ahead.



From: http://www.simplyshredded.com/31-rules-of-nutrition.html

AmandaHammill

Although it may not have an impact while you are young, too much sodium does contribute to hypertension (which in turn can lead to cardiovascular and renal issues - and more). If you are interested, google 'stroke prevention' 'heart health' for more info. I'm a hypertension researcher, but i'm at work, lol and can't really go into the details.
cheers

Naomi91

Salt is not good for you. I think you know that. It's bad for the heart and blood pressure.

That being said, A lot of sodium AND being obese is very very very bad.

You are working on losing weight. and it's working for you. Just keep in mind that at some point, the high sodium is going to be detrimental to the weight loss. But for now, do whatever works.

Not true, sodium has no kcals. Sodium will cause water retention. But most people are on a quest for FAT loss, not to lose their water weight.

CraftyGirl4

Way more sodium than is recommended can come back to bite you in the *kitten* in the way of health problems. Your body needs sodium to maintain the right amount of fluids in your body, assist in muscle contraction, etc. Your kidneys naturally balance the amount of sodium stored in your body for optimal health. When your sodium levels are low, your kidneys essentially hold on to the sodium. When sodium levels are high, your kidneys excrete the excess in urine.

But if for some reason your kidneys can't eliminate enough sodium, the sodium starts to accumulate in your blood. Because sodium attracts and holds water, your blood volume increases. Increased blood volume makes your heart work harder to move more blood through your blood vessels, which increases pressure in your arteries. Such diseases as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease can make it hard for your kidneys to keep sodium levels balanced.

To help keep your sodium consumption in check, you need to know where the sodium comes from. The number one culprit is processed and prepared foods and adding salt to your foods. Consider that just one teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium.

To reduce sodium try to eat more fresh foods (fruits, vegetables, fresh meats instead of lunch meats, sausages, etc.), buy low sodium or no salt added prepared foods, remove salt from recipes when possible, limit sodium laden condiments (soy sauce, for example, and replace with herbs and spices to enhance flavor.

NikkisNewStart

Think about this... high blood pressure and heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. You already have a target on your back being a woman... high sodium increases this risk. It isn't all about the weight so yes... you are being horrid to your body. This information may save your life so I'm going to tell you the truth. You need to greatly reduce your sodium. The CDC reports that 69% of adults are salt sensitive (me being one of them) and because of our highly processed diet, sodium numbers are out of this world. You should really strive for less than 1800 mg a day, preferably less than 1500 mg. This is VERY easy to achieve by reducing the amount of processed garbage, umm "food like substances," in your diet.

Seriously take this information to heart (literally) because it can save your life. Sodium is a killer in this country and around the world. Just because it is in food doesn't mean it is safe or good for us. Natural food is naturally low in sodium for a REASON. It is much more important than just weight related issues!!!

olyrose

Ack, me too! I kinda wish I hadn't started tracking it because I do so well in all the other areas. But, I know it's important so I've been trying to watch it. I never realized how much is in everything!!

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