sodium salt salt sodium aaauuuggghhhh

rufflestx

I don't see a lot said about sodium. It is my nemesis. This is the real health hazard I am forced to monitor. Blood pressure, water retention and threat of stroke have a serious historical impact on the beautiful women in my family and I am having to watch closely the amount of sodium I take a day. If I am markedly low I feel so much better in general. Better sleep, even my allergies are less bothersome. Any one else out there with the same concerns?

servilia

Well since I eat pretty clean I don't have a problem with too much sodium (in fact on some days I'm at 700mg, which might actually be low) but I just watched a video on youtube with tips from Jillian Michaels where she mentions that sodium helps cortisone to change into cortisol. And too much cortisol can cause weight gain in the belly! So that's another reason to watch it.

Qarol

I don't see a lot said about sodium.

Really? I see it mentioned quite a lot.

jazzkat68

Argh!! I'm right with you!! I also monitor my potassium. Do you do that also? I try to find potassium rich foods to eat. Potassium helps counter-act the effects of sodium. Low sodium V8 juice has LOTS of potassium.

shawnscott5

I just recently started watching my sodium. Someone on here had made a comment about how much sodium I was eating. And to be real honest, I was clueless because I don't "salt" anything. So I started tracking, and oh lordy was I way over. After a few days of really watching it closely, I noticed my belly wasn't bloating so bad. I thought my sister and I were just weird because we bloat so bad that we look like we are six months pregnant. Her and I have both talked with our Doctors about this, and neither one of us were given an answer. Since I have been really watching it...no more prego belly. Plus I just tested high for Cholesterol, and have to go back in on the 10th. I don't know if sodium contributes to that or not, something for me to research later today, but it couldn't hurt to get it on track. Good luck with your journey!!

Jsnbabb1

i have the same problem....if i consume too much salt (lets say i go out for pizza with my family and eat maybe 1-2 slices) the next day no matter how much water i drink my feet and hands are swollen...much like a pregnant person. lol i assure you i am NOT pregnant but have been twice in the past 6 years and ever sence then i have delt with that. Now i just limit my sodium to 1800mg/day which i almost never reach. Just stick to whole foods and you will be fine. precook your meals for the week and you wont have to deal with the hassle of cooking everyday.

XFitMojoMom

me, me, me - just got results back from annual c.u. and I'm in the gray zone for cholesterol and have high BP. I eat clean, but I do like to drink... I exercise hard everyday, but looks like this is a hereditary disease that I'm battling and will always be a struggle.

I check sodium content of everything! I often go over my alloted 1500 g (MFP I think sets it at 2500, which for us is high). I use salt free spices to jazz up my food (victorian epicure has a good selection of low salt to no salt spices)... oh, and I CHEW my food. People don't masticate their food enough, and therefore miss tasting their food, and when they don't taste their food, they miss the flavors which will effectively make you feel satiated.

Jorra

Argh!! I'm right with you!! I also monitor my potassium. Do you do that also? I try to find potassium rich foods to eat. Potassium helps counter-act the effects of sodium. Low sodium V8 juice has LOTS of potassium.

This. Potassium and sodium work together in the body to fuel many metabolic reactions. When you don't have enough potassium, it increases the effects of excess sodium. Having more potassium decreases it.

dmpizza

I am under Doctor's orders to consume only half the recommended daily allowance for sodium.
Friend me if you want and we can trade info.

dmpizza

I am under Doctor's orders to consume only half the recommended daily allowance for sodium.
Friend me if you want and we can trade info.

cedarhurst2006

The more I cook my own meals the better my sodium levels. I try to stay away from frozen and processed foods. Eating out is also a danger zone.

Masterchef2000

ME! I was one of those people who LOVED salt! The amount other people used to salt their entire meal, I would put on one plate. I loved my salt. I decided I would quit. If the food had salt already ok but I wasn't picking up that salt shaker anymore. I noticed that I dropped 4 lbs in one week. I believe it was all water retention. I did read a while back that people who love their salt then quit (and are overweight) can drop several pounds in one week from doing so. Between my soda addiction and my salt, I was carrying a LOT of extra water.

Adrenaline_Queen

I don't see a lot said about sodium. It is my nemesis. This is the real health hazard I am forced to monitor. Blood pressure, water retention and threat of stroke have a serious historical impact on the beautiful women in my family and I am having to watch closely the amount of sodium I take a day. If I am markedly low I feel so much better in general. Better sleep, even my allergies are less bothersome. Any one else out there with the same concerns?

I have been told to put more sodium in my diet... Sigh... Just when things start to make sense I get all confused again!! LOL xx Will do more reading xx

raevynn

If it is boxed, canned, packaged... it probably has sodium added.

Eat fresh, real food as often as possible.

Celery, which contains some sort of natural sodium, actually will relieve a lot of added-sodium related issues, like edema (I have a LOT of experience with edema, so this is my anecdotal, not medical advice).

Naturally occurring salts, like celery, seaweed, etc., have the related minerals that are good for you. The chemical added to "foods" 99.99% of the time does not, and therefore, in my opinion, is just another toxin to avoid.