Maybe reducing sodium isn't the best choice for everyone...

UpEarly

Interesting research:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/03/salt.heart.attack/index.html?hpt=Sbin

"The researchers don't have a firm explanation for this finding, but they speculate that sodium intake low enough to decrease blood pressure may also decrease sensitivity to insulin, encourage a stress response in the nervous system, and affect hormones that regulate blood pressure and sodium absorption. "Each of these effects might have unfavorable impact on cardiovascular mortality," Staessen says."

julwills

I saw this article. I do however think reducing sodium still helps with the water retention so many of us deal with!

AUPerry

bump

Walt75

I saw this article. I do however think reducing sodium still helps with the water retention so many of us deal with!

Agree

00trayn

Yep, I do it for the water retention! If I eat salty foods, it basically erases any progress for me on the scale for a few days. I'd rather avoid it and have the scale cooperate.

Sigra

That's ok, a lot of people drink TONS of water - but I can't because of my disease my body will retain water like no other. I constantly can feel bloated if I drink the normal 8-12 cups everyone else drinks.

Different people, different experiences

hpsnickers1

Always get at least 500mg of sodium per day. People who exercise (i.e. sweat) a lot need more sodium. 1500mg max is for people who already have HBP or are 'salt-sensitive'. The body can process up to 30,000mg of sodium daily (can't remember where I read this).

I don't worry about water weight anymore. It disappears just as fast as it happens. The body fat is what I worry about. The number on the scale is just a number.

mikeyml

I don't think anyone is advocating to cut sodium out all together. Just that it's not healthy to eat 3,000 - 5,000 mg of sodium a day. It's all about moderation. Plus there are some serious flaws to this study that raise a lot of questions.

capricorn144

I think it is the Mayo Clinic that recommends 1500mg of sodium if you are over 51 yrs of age.

A low sodium diet is considered a 2GM sodium count for the day.

I think you just have to use good sense and if you are not eating a ton of processed and packaged foods (use in moderation) you are ok.

estelle74uk

I think it is a true a bit, i do not put any salt on my foods and probably have a low sodium diet, a little while back I was feeling very dizzy and lightheaded and strange, had quite low blood pressure, and my dr told me to add more salt, I did that, and it got back to normal again! Although now, I have gone back to the low salt way of eating.

claire_b79

My cardiologist is always telling me to eat more salt AND drink more water. I have low blood pressure though. I think it really depends on the person and their health conditions.

UpEarly

I think it is the Mayo Clinic that recommends 1500mg of sodium if you are over 51 yrs of age.

A low sodium diet is considered a 2GM sodium count for the day.

I think you just have to use good sense and if you are not eating a ton of processed and packaged foods (use in moderation) you are ok.

This is kind of the philosophy I personally follow. Most days, I end up with about 2000mg of sodium. It's not hard to do, because I don't eat a lot of processed foods. However, on the weekends when I do ultra-long workouts or go backpacking, I tend to sweat a lot and eat a lot, and usually go over 2500mg of sodium.