Too little sodium?????

16mixingbowls

Hello,

I've been reading some of the posts on sodium/potassium, and hydration, etc, and am wondering if it is possible to get too little sodium? On average, I'm only consuming 1400 mg of sodium per day (My MFP goal is 2400.) This might be higher than actual because some of my foods I have to substitute in MFP since I make them home-made.

My question related to the RDA's recommended maximum, but what is a healthy minimum???

The only real sodium I seem to get comes from cottage cheese, occasional Trader Joe's chicken sausages, and baby carrots (??). On my diary I have some Rudi's multigrain bread, but that's more for the calories because I make my own gluten free bread and I know I only put in a dash of salt.

Should I be adding salt to more of my foods?

TIA!

chuckyp

You can get hyponatremia from too little sodium. But chances are you get enough from your diet. People who get hyponatremia are usually going overboard and drinking too much water and flushing their system of its sodium.

Athena413

You can have too little sodium, but I don't know what a healthy minimum would be. I know they say if you workout/sweat a lot that you need to be replacing the sodium/electrolytes that you sweated off. I'll try to do some research, because I'm interested too.

sweetness48

Here in Canada, the recommended intake of sodium is 1500mg or less. Way below the MFP guideline. I would say you are ok!

Athena413

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09354.html

This article says minimum 1,500 mg

MzMiller1215

You should probably ask a medial professional.

NatalieWinning

Just be mindfull of hot sweaty days. You will need to replace sodium and electrolytes if you are sweating extra or plan to be in the heat for a time. Just extra water doesn't cut it, then.

KatiePeca

I always try to eat less then 1800mg of sodium a day, I think MFP's guidles are okay, but I know Dr's advise those with hypertension or risk of hypertension to eat no more then 1500mg a day.

Katie

_Sally_

I don't think you are eating too little sodium. Here's another opinion by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live:

http://drfuhrman.com/faq/question.aspx?sid=16&qindex=1

"The American Heart Association recommends a sodium intake of less than 1500 mg daily. Ideally we should consume less than 1000 mg of sodium a day."


Here are symptoms of low sodium:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/4733-need-low-sodium-symptoms/

"The minimum requirement of sodium for successful cell function is about 500 mg/day. Most people get much more than this due to regular consumption of processed foods............Athletes and those participating in vigorous physical activity should pay special attention to their sodium intake due to the loss of sodium through sweating."

maureendonahue

You can get hyponatremia from too little sodium. But chances are you get enough from your diet. People who get hyponatremia are usually going overboard and drinking too much water and flushing their system of its sodium.

My sister has this now, and it is a ongoing and very serious problem. They are still trying to determine the cause. But as long as you are feeling well (no weakness, lethargy, headaches) you are probably fine. Next time you are at the doctors, ask about it.

adamcf

If your not trying to avoid sodium then you're probably ok. Also, drinking too much water to flush your system will reduce sodium. When working out your body flushes sodium/ potassium and other minerals that you need. just drinking water especially during a tough workout might leave you with a headache after. gatorade or smart water has all those electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium) there are also tablets that runners use to add to water when running. I've done that before, I've gone on a big run and only drank water. I had a massive headache after. I downed some smartwater and felt fine about 20 minutes later.

_gwen

Yes, you could have too low sodium, but I don't think you are in danger.

I just posted this info on another forum:

http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/sodium.htm

The CDC recommends 2,300 mg of sodium per day. If you are in one of the following population groups, you should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

You are 51 years of age or older.
You are African American.
You have high blood pressure.
You have diabetes.
You have chronic kidney disease.

See also:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/NU00284

NatalieWinning

I don't think you are eating too little sodium. Here's another opinion by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live:

http://drfuhrman.com/faq/question.aspx?sid=16&qindex=1

"The American Heart Association recommends a sodium intake of less than 1500 mg daily. Ideally we should consume less than 1000 mg of sodium a day."


Here are symptoms of low sodium:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/4733-need-low-sodium-symptoms/

"The minimum requirement of sodium for successful cell function is about 500 mg/day. Most people get much more than this due to regular consumption of processed foods............Athletes and those participating in vigorous physical activity should pay special attention to their sodium intake due to the loss of sodium through sweating."

Also camping, fishermen, and hikers, etc.. Just use common sense and know what heat exhaustion looks like.