how to get enough sodium?

GymAnJuice

Hi, could anyone tell me how to get enough sodium in my diet? i only reach half the expected level at best, never had the recommended amount of iron either i'v only been on this website for almost a week now, so still learning - thanks, lisa

issyfit

I look at the sodium number as a maximum not a minimum.

GymAnJuice

oh, i'v lost a lot of hair & read that it could be the cause so trying to get it up lovely profile picture by the way

bettyboop573

It is definitely a MAX.....It is set pretty high actually, I try not to go to much over 1500

anabell31

I wish my sodium levels would just stay in the green... But if you really want to up it, regular condensed soups tend to have a lot. That's what kills me, anyway.

UsedToBeHusky

It is generally not difficult to get sodium in your diet. You could try canned foods. That is always a good place to start. If you need iron, you could maybe try canned collard greens. I usually prefer them fresh, but there is added sodium in the canned stuff.

ElizabethRoad

Use your salt shaker?

StrongGwen

I have the opposite problem! I want to limit sodium just because I get bloated, but it seems that any pre-packaged food is just loaded. Cottage cheese has tons, for goodness sake! Smoked salmon (smoked anything, really), salted nuts, canned tuna, sprinkle a little salt on any food you prepare and you'll be over in no time!

Never heard about hair loss and low sodium before. I think in the US, low sodium has to be a rare thing just because it's loaded into so many foods.

snookumss

Seriously a single tsp of salt is an entire daily value. If you sprinkle a little bit of salt on your foods, you are getting more sodium than you think

Drink gatorades as well. They are hydrating and help get more sodium.

jr1985

haha I'm the opposite... I ALWAYS go over on my sodium intake even when I'm WAY under on calories... Canned soup is sure to do the trick if you are really low... but the recommended amount of sodium is more of a maximum instead of a minimum here. Cheese also has a lot of sodium (and fat ) but it tasted delicious if you want a tasty high sodium treat... Or spiced nuts... or put seasoning blends on your food... or just go ahead and use plain salt to salt your food.

Iron... Red meat has the most... since I don't like red meat often I generally have to take a vitamin for my iron

JBApplebee

Use your salt shaker?

That was hilarious. I about spit my pop out while reading it.

seanian

Pickels, 0 calories and about 400 mg of sodium per spear

hope516

I would love to see your diary bc I have the opposite! WAY too much sodium!...and I agree it is a Maximum and if you are way under than it is an accomplishment!!!

UsedToBeHusky

Pickels, 0 calories and about 400 mg of sodium per spear

Oooh! Great suggestion! Love some pickles but I won't touch them because of the sodium!

My1985Freckles

Unless you have low blood pressure, you want less not more sodium.

bcattoes

oh, i'v lost a lot of hair & read that it could be the cause so trying to get it up lovely profile picture by the way

It's possible, but other things could cause this. Are you eating enough fat? Too little fat can also cause this. If you want more sodium, then just salt your food. But if you are getting half the recommended amount you are getting enough unless you have a problem absorbing it.

arlyn70

i dont know if my answer will help, but i need and dont need sodium.. and i ask my doctor what to do and told me to buy something name: inner mountain HIMALAYAN rock salt

taste as salt but isnt salt..

for 1/4 have 300mg of salt..

i dont know what it is.. but i flushing a lot of water since i start eating with

rml_16

Hi, could anyone tell me how to get enough sodium in my diet? i only reach half the expected level at best, never had the recommended amount of iron either i'v only been on this website for almost a week now, so still learning - thanks, lisa

I actually get very, very little sodium and was concerned about it, so I did some research. Turns out that while the body can handle more (and if you're not hypertensive, the worst side effect of too much is water retention), the body only actually NEEDS 500mg a day. If you're getting half of 2,500mg, then you're fine.

dlaplume2

Are you sure you are not getting enough? It is really hard to avoid sodium. I would check with your doctor and see if there is a medical issue that your body requires more sodium and that there isn't another reason your hair is falling out. I know that can happen if you are a vegetarian and are missing out on a lot of nutrients.

I highly recommend you get professional help with this. It could be something medical, or just seeing a nutritionist.

Best wishes.

rml_16

oh, i'v lost a lot of hair & read that it could be the cause so trying to get it up lovely profile picture by the way

Where in the world did you read that? If you're losing hair, look at protein, vitamins and fat, not sodium.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/499326-low-potassium-hair-loss/

Sodium/Potassium Balance
You also must maintain a balance of sodium and potassium in your body. High levels of sodium can damage the hair follicles and prevent the necessary nutrients from reaching your hair. In order to improve symptoms of sodium overload, you should eat foods rich in potassium to balance the sodium levels in your body.



Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/499326-low-potassium-hair-loss/#ixzz1l8r1nI7u

714rah714

Himalayan rock salt tastes like salt becuase it is salt

monicalynne68

I wouldn't worry about getting to that number. That's the absolute most sodium you should eat and most processed foods are way above that number. Sodium makes you retain water which will hinder your weight loss.

jenniebean1680

Hi, could anyone tell me how to get enough sodium in my diet? i only reach half the expected level at best, never had the recommended amount of iron either i'v only been on this website for almost a week now, so still learning - thanks, lisa

That's a recommended MAX, meaning you should stay as far below it as you can. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

Think about an iron supplement and/or researching iron-rich foods online.

jenniebean1680

Himalayan rock salt tastes like salt becuase it is salt

:laugh:

fionarama

isn't sodium just salt? I was worried as i can't really bear eggs or tomatoes without salt, so looked at my intake. mine is very low as I eat very clean so I now am not worried about the salt I sprinkle on my eggs or tomatos as I see that you need a bit. So why don't you just sprinkle a bit of salt on something to up the level. One teaspoon = 2500 mg apparently so it doesn't take much.

judgejava

check your food, you will find alot of the food in the MFP database is entered by users and often they only enter calories or carbs and protein for the nutritional data, alot of other things like vitamins, iron, sodium etc are missing.

Check your own food nutritional data

Di3012

I look at the sodium number as a maximum not a minimum.

There is a minimum which is 500mg per day, it is very dangerous to go below this, it mucks up the body's electrolytes and can cause a person's cells to swell - in short, they drown. It is called water intoxication or Hyponatremia.

HarlCarl

how to get enough sodium

processed meat

allison_joan

Use your salt shaker?

This is hilarious! But seriously, you're probably getting more sodium in your diet than you think. If not just add some salt to your food?

gillybumbler

just eat more salt

judgejava

isn't sodium just salt? I was worried as i can't really bear eggs or tomatoes without salt, so looked at my intake. mine is very low as I eat very clean so I now am not worried about the salt I sprinkle on my eggs or tomatos as I see that you need a bit. So why don't you just sprinkle a bit of salt on something to up the level. One teaspoon = 2500 mg apparently so it doesn't take much.

yes and no.

salt is actually about 40% sodium and the rest is chloride in most refined salts. of course there are different salts too, like table salt, sea salt, iodized

For electrolyte balance for example maintaining your sodium levels doesnt really mean sprinkle some salt on your dinner ;-)