how does sodium REALLY work?

chaitrex
chaitrex Posts: 94 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I usually try and keep my sodium down to about 1500 a day. I make most of my own food and avoid processed foods with a few precious exceptions. But some days, if I got out for lunch or something, it just skyrockets.
On a day by day level, how does it affect the body?
Is going over 2500 once every couple weeks going to hinder weight loss, or is it just going to leave me a little puffy tomorrow?

Replies

  • whitneyann0
    whitneyann0 Posts: 327 Member
    Bump!
    I'm curious too!
  • Newfiedan
    Newfiedan Posts: 1,517 Member
    It all really depends on how sensitive your body is to it, some ppl are very sensitive to it and it causes water retention and if in to high an amount can affect kidney function as it has to now clear out the excess sodium. I am not all that sensitive to it and so long as you are not consistently high then it should not hurt anything. If you are training heavy though a little extra sodium can help to prevent muscle cramps.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Sodium may help you retain water, but as far as I know, it doesn't help you retain fat.
  • beccadaniixox
    beccadaniixox Posts: 542 Member
    Sodium spikes may cause you to retain water weight.. just drink a lot of water the next day and you'll be down to 'real weight only'
  • jerrytball
    jerrytball Posts: 18
    I ate a little too much sodium today I like to be no more than 2000 but some how got up to 3500 and I feel it, this article at this website nailed my symptoms, running nose, clearing throat, down lots of water, started subsiding....read this pretty interesting enjoy
    http://www.watercure2.org/histamines.htm
  • tataliciousd89
    tataliciousd89 Posts: 465
    Sodium does nothing to affect fat loss but it will effect your weight just because of water balance. 1 liter of water weighs 1kg or about 2.2 lbs, so retained water can make a huge difference when you go to step on the scale.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Sodium may help you retain water, but as far as I know, it doesn't help you retain fat.

    This.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Sodium may help you retain water, but as far as I know, it doesn't help you retain fat.

    Truth.
  • jhartram
    jhartram Posts: 165
    I'm far from an expert, but what I've noticed in myself is that it doesn't stop me from losing weight on a weekly basis as long as it's every once in a while. I've gone over several times and I consistently lose about 2 lbs a week. You can even reduce the "next day" effect with a few tips.

    1. Try to eat your salty meal in the morning. I've started asking my friends to do breakfast instead of lunch, because it's easier on me... and they usually don't have a problem with it.

    2. Drink at least half again as much water as you usually do during the rest of the day... it helps flush the extra salt out of your system.

    3. Eat cucumbers at some point on the day you eat the salt and again the day after... don't know why it works but it does!

    Best of luck! =D
  • CheleLynn44
    CheleLynn44 Posts: 339 Member
    I can only speak for me, but I have been trying to watch my sodium and keep it at or under 2500 for the day. I do go over pretty much every Thursday, but that is my weigh in day, and eat what I have been craving day.

    I have been losing and do not feel bloated. I find that tracking it in my diary makes me a lot more of what I am putting in my mouth. I find the more I cook my own food the better I can control my sodium!
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    Sodium assists me in staying upright.

    I have low blood pressure, so eating an average to high amount of sodium daily helps prevent lightheaded / dizzy feelings from making me pass out.
  • chaitrex
    chaitrex Posts: 94 Member
    Wow! Thank you so much for all of the replies!
    I realize it would just be water weight, but I also know that excess sodium slows down your kidney and liver functions, which may cause issues with waste (ahem) management and therefore weight loss. But from what I'm seeing here, it shouldn't be an issue if I only go over occasionally.
    Thanks for the input guys!
  • reddi2roll
    reddi2roll Posts: 356 Member
    Sodium assists me in staying upright.

    I have low blood pressure, so eating an average to high amount of sodium daily helps prevent lightheaded / dizzy feelings from making me pass out.

    Thus the reason that too much sodium can affect a myriad of health conditions i.e. Hypertension, Heart Failure, Kidney Disease to name a few but in terms of weight management, too much sodium does lead to temporary retention of water. If you don't have other health issues the increase of sodium is temporary as long as you are not persistently overdoing the sodium.
  • mikefarinha
    mikefarinha Posts: 21 Member
    Here is an interesting write up on salt, basically saying that real salt is good and healthy but the processed salt isn't healthy at all.

    http://wellnessmama.com/3745/is-salt-healthy
  • chaitrex
    chaitrex Posts: 94 Member
    Here is an interesting write up on salt, basically saying that real salt is good and healthy but the processed salt isn't healthy at all.

    http://wellnessmama.com/3745/is-salt-healthy

    I know isn't that weird! I always use Himalayan pink rock salt when I cook...it has great flavor and um...it's pink. Did I mention it's pink? It's like fairy electrolyte sprinkles.
  • mikefarinha
    mikefarinha Posts: 21 Member
    I have some red hawaiian sea salt I keep at work... yum!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories