Guys who watch salt/sodium intake

yuliyax

Guys who watch salt intake is this true?
"It's just the same as giving up sugar in tea. After a few weeks your taste buds will adjust and you will start to enjoy food with less salt. In fact, you'll wonder how you ever ate food that was so salty!"

I got asked today by a friend if I want noodles with that salt, so I got to do smth about it. . I feel like I am addicted to salt..

Thing is my mum doesn't use salt or eats high sodium food at all and been doing this for about 10 years and if she ever eats smth like salami (anything salty) she gets really bad swollen ankles and I don't want that to happen to me.

Also, what do you think of this article?
http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/07/cutting-salt-may-not-reduce-heart-attacks-or-risk-of-death/

roachhaley

Guys who watch salt intake is this true?
"It's just the same as giving up sugar in tea. After a few weeks your taste buds will adjust and you will start to enjoy food with less salt. In fact, you'll wonder how you ever ate food that was so salty!"

I got asked today by a friend if I want noodles with that salt, so I got to do smth about it. . I feel like I am addicted to salt..

Thing is my mum doesn't use salt or eats high sodium food at all and been doing this for about 10 years and if she ever eats smth like salami (anything salty) she gets really bad swollen ankles and I don't want that to happen to me.

Also, what do you think of this article?
http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/07/cutting-salt-may-not-reduce-heart-attacks-or-risk-of-death/

Not sure if it's true, but my grandfather who has heart problems was told a similar thing about the cutting salt.

DopeItUp

It is true. I cut back massively but still have relatively high sodium intake (2500-3000mg average a day) but now salty things taste overpoweringly salty now. My intake must have been incredibly high previously.

Keep in mind, if you are salting your food you are probably taking in 10x the recommended daily limit. A single teaspoon of salt is basically your entire daily allotted amount. Go grab a teaspoon (not a tablespoon) and see how little that really is. Then add up all the sodium in the food that you eat and it's probably off the charts.

dmpizza

Very true.
I found when I was at about 50% RDA that my taste buds really altered. Now that I am at 75 to 100% RDA, my taste buds are more 'normal'.

yuliyax

I feel like I can't not salt food, but if it gets easier and the food doesn't taste bland after a while I'm willing to work through the withdrawal, heh.

solrak1969

It is totally true. My sodium intake is very minimal, and when I have something salty I wonder how I ever ate that way. All of the prepared foods we eat are loaded with sodium, so we get used to it. same deal with sugar. Eating clean is the only way to go.

PLUMSGRL

yep, me too...try using Potassium Chloride salt (in the seasoning isle) it goes by various names, still has a salty taste, but no swelling.

ladyfingers39

When I first joined here I was shocked at my sodium intake, all because of lunch meat. 1100 grams in one serving!! Good lord...no more lunch meat for me.
I try to keep it under 2000 for my blood pressure because it's boarderline and that is very difficult. I LOVE SALT!

WhitneyAnnabelle

Try pepper or herbs/spices. I think they're more satisfying than salt.

jephry

Try pepper or herbs/spices. I think they're more satisfying than salt.

I agree completely. It's surprisingly easy to replace salt with other spices and your food will actually be more flavorful!

myfitnessnmhoy

The one thing I know for certain about overeating salt is that it causes the body to retain water.

In my experience, that water is not retained in a way where the water appears to have any useful function other than purging the salt you just ate, so in addition to having all that water retained in your system, you also have dehydration issues. Saline is unuseable for most bodily functions, just ask anyone who tried to slake their thirst with ocean water for more than a few hours (wait, you might need a seance for that - what's your opinion on life-after-death and contacting the dead?).

In some people, that manifests itself as swollen ankles or other body parts, other people seem to retain the water less visibly. Some people don't seem as affected by it as others, and I've seen the effects change with age (so both of you young ladies might be fine with it now but discover it's a problem later).

The only recommendation I have, if you can't/won't get your sodium intake down somewhere near "recommended" levels (you can track them in your food diary on this site, and there are average-based recommendations) is simple. If you eat a lot of salt, give your body the tools it needs to process and eventually get rid of that salt. And about the only tool it needs (or wants) is good amounts of pure water.

wisebadger53

I've been watching my salt/sodium intake for a few months now. I have my sodium goal set pretty low, at 1,500mg/day. Most days I stay under or right around my goal, but some days I go significantly over if I eat a lot of processed foods. I never add salt to anything, and much of what I used to eat now does taste almost too salty to me.

My blood pressure has gone down since I gave up the NaCl, and a side benefit was an 8 lb. weightloss in the second week that I was doing this. :bigsmile:

In order to hit such a low goal I have to really think about what I am eating, but if you just keep it at the recommended 2,500mg/day it should be fairly easy...and also learn to only grab the pepper shaker to flavor your food.

Good luck!

NathanJ79

I don't like salt as a seasoning. There are times when it's appropriate, but then, I only use a little. A little salt goes a long way. And table salt is just nasty. Kosher salt is better (not Jewish but it is) and sea salt is even better than that.

I've noticed people sabotaging the MFP database by boosting sodium when they enter that. When you use the search function, the first time, grab your food's nutrition facts and check everything, not just the calories. And correct it if it's wrong. One idiot put 9600 grams of sodium in 8 oz. of chicken. Somebody fixed it, but it still shows up like that when I use it... So I found another entry that was more accurate (110 calories for 8oz... and around 20mg sodium? Better than 9600 LOL). But for random stuff. I just corrected one the other day, somebody had, I think it was a Chicken Helper, as having 540mg sodium per serving, but the box says 380mg, so I corrected it... I guess they're trying to game their weight loss/whatever goals by having the food they eat be more damaging, so they eat less (like setting your alarm 5 minutes fast) but I like my figures accurate.

LottieLou13

I haven't added salt to my food for about 20 odd years. Even before I started watching my sodium intake (a couple of months ago due to hypertension) I can taste the tiniest about of salt in food. I have'nt been able eat ready salted crisps for ages because they are just too too salty for me. Makes my lips feel all funny and shriveled up :indifferent:

myfitnessnmhoy

yep, me too...try using Potassium Chloride salt (in the seasoning isle) it goes by various names, still has a salty taste, but no swelling.

Not only that, but potassium is (like sodium) a useful enzyme that is valuable to the body. The difference is that most people have trouble getting ENOUGH potassium, whereas in the era of preserved/processed foods (where salt is the cheapest non-toxic preservative around and happens to taste AWESOME!), people generally struggle with keeping their sodium down.

Just don't overdo it with potassium, either! Just like sodium, it's really good for you in reasonable quantities, and maybe not so good for you in large quantities.

yuliyax

If you eat a lot of salt, give your body the tools it needs to process and eventually get rid of that salt. And about the only tool it needs (or wants) is good amounts of pure water.

I drink 2+ liters probably about 3 when I'm doing cardio, does that mean I shouldn't worry that much about my sodium intake?

yuliyax

I've noticed people sabotaging the MFP database by boosting sodium when they enter that.

I've noticed it too, in UK lables show salt in gramms not mgr so most UK food has wrong sodium input

kludgood

Try pepper or herbs/spices. I think they're more satisfying than salt.

^^this I add no sodium spices to everything! && it's true I def can't handle foods with slot of salt anymore & I don't even add salt into stuff I cook

DesignGuy

Yep. Salt actually messes with your taste buds. Since joining MFP recently, I've been monitoring my sodium/potassium mix.

When I eat at home, my sodium is great. When I have to eat out, it takes a good hit. There's way too much sodium in stuff.

If you're high in sodium and can't lower it, increase your potassium (and check with your doc for more info).

SirBen81

I went on a low sodium diet for several months, taking less than 1,000mg per day. There was no difference in the way I felt or my vitals, so I went back to 2,500-3,000mg.

downtownstazi

I try to drink extra water on days that I am over salt/sodium intake.
Sometimes even when I am not over, keeps me full longer.

SirBen81

Why is this question only addressed to guys?

marsellient

I've noticed people sabotaging the MFP database by boosting sodium when they enter that.

I've noticed it too, in UK lables show salt in gramms not mgr so most UK food has wrong sodium input

I'm sure there are many inaccuracies; however, many processed foods have different sodium levels depending on what country you are in, so if you can find local information that is the best bet.

Perpalicious

Watching sodium intake is largely pointless unless you're sodium sensitive or you're consuming ridiculous amounts of sodium (I consume around 8g a day, hold no water, and have a 108/65 blood pressure).

As for reduced (or low) sodium with water retention: Horse kaka. Look up aldosterone. This is released when you reduce sodium or make it too low. As a result, water retention is increased.

Also, salt makes food taste better. Let's not try and tell the entire culinary world otherwise, which are built on extraordinary palettes, far better than your average Westerner. I don't care how many people here tell me otherwise. You can trick yourself into a lot. Think taste aversion. How many people on here think McDonalds truly makes them sick? Taste aversion 101.

As for the article, it's true. The Journal of Hypertension released a meta-analysis a year ago or so that concluded that increased sodium for people with normal-to-high blood pressure does not increase risks of specific diseases and such. Meta-analyses > individual studies.

Lesson? There's too much bull**** regarding a lot of nutritional principles and around 99% of what's out there tends to be horse****. I could delve into more but unfortunately ignorance tends to be stronger than truth and as I am only one man my efforts tend to be wasted.

yuliyax

oh no, I'm not p.t. !!!!!
just joking, all advice is welcome

AeolianHarp

Watching sodium intake is largely pointless unless you're sodium sensitive or you're consuming ridiculous amounts of sodium (I consume around 8g a day, hold no water, and have a 108/65 blood pressure).

As for reduced (or low) sodium with water retention: Horse kaka. Look up aldosterone. This is released when you reduce sodium or make it too low. As a result, water retention is increased.

Also, salt makes food taste better. Let's not try and tell the entire culinary world otherwise, which are built on extraordinary palettes, far better than your average Westerner. I don't care how many people here tell me otherwise. You can trick yourself into a lot. Think taste aversion. How many people on here think McDonalds truly makes them sick? Taste aversion 101.

As for the article, it's true. The Journal of Hypertension released a meta-analysis a year ago or so that concluded that increased sodium for people with normal-to-high blood pressure does not increase risks of specific diseases and such. Meta-analyses > individual studies.

Lesson? There's too much bull**** regarding a lot of nutritional principles and around 99% of what's out there tends to be horse****. I could delve into more but unfortunately ignorance tends to be stronger than truth and as I am only one man my efforts tend to be wasted.

Wow. I didn't even think there's anyone else who even knew this on MFP.

Listen to what this guy says. He's a god damn genius.

tsh0ck

Watching sodium intake is largely pointless unless you're sodium sensitive or you're consuming ridiculous amounts of sodium (I consume around 8g a day, hold no water, and have a 108/65 blood pressure).

As for reduced (or low) sodium with water retention: Horse kaka. Look up aldosterone. This is released when you reduce sodium or make it too low. As a result, water retention is increased.

Also, salt makes food taste better. Let's not try and tell the entire culinary world otherwise, which are built on extraordinary palettes, far better than your average Westerner. I don't care how many people here tell me otherwise. You can trick yourself into a lot. Think taste aversion. How many people on here think McDonalds truly makes them sick? Taste aversion 101.

As for the article, it's true. The Journal of Hypertension released a meta-analysis a year ago or so that concluded that increased sodium for people with normal-to-high blood pressure does not increase risks of specific diseases and such. Meta-analyses > individual studies.

Lesson? There's too much bull**** regarding a lot of nutritional principles and around 99% of what's out there tends to be horse****. I could delve into more but unfortunately ignorance tends to be stronger than truth and as I am only one man my efforts tend to be wasted.

Wow. I didn't even think there's anyone else who even knew this on MFP.

Listen to what this guy says. He's a god damn genius.

(while I'm hurt I wasn't thought of here, ... )

CyberEd312

I must be standing alone on this one then.... I have Never tracked sodium, ever.... I still salt my foods (use sea salt) and have lost 306 lbs. in the process... Never track sugar either for that matter... I only track Calories, Protein, Carbs, and Fats..... Now I do drink no less than 120 oz of water a day... normally pushing 150-160 oz. most days.....

justkrissy

I think it really depends on how much your eating of it. Almost everything has sodium in it, so as long as your not over doing it, I'm sure it'll be fine. I myself had to cut down on it, I was a HUGE salt lover, so now I do keep a careful eye on my sodium intake because before I started eating healthy, I was going way over my sodium intake. I honestly added table salt to every single thing I ate. Lunch and supper, I sprinkled so much salt all over my plate on anything that was all my plate. So yah, I definitely had to cut down. And becuase I new I couldn't just try adding less salt, I cut table salt completely out of my diet and have been using alot of Low Sodium food products. I still am usually having between 2000-2800mg of sodium a day, (but it is just from regular foods, no added salt.

At first it was REALLY hard... It was kind of like quiting smoking for me, because nothing tasted right without adding salt to it, but after the first week, I got over it and now it doesn't even bother me. I'm sure if I even tried to add salt to anything, I probably wouldn't be able to eat it lol!

gpstrucker

When I was told I had high blood pressure I stopped adding salt to my food and started avoiding high sodium foods for the most part. I still had to go on medication but just reducing salt intake did lower my blood pressure by several points. Just my personal anecdotal experience, but I do try to keep the salt down now.

ajelove

I watch the salt mostly for bloating purposes. I intake 1k - 2.5k mg a day with no adding of salt to things. It's been about 10 years now, and I prefer less salty foods. However, when I do eat significantly more sodium I have no other problems besides bloating for about 2 days. I still feel fine, though. My stomach is a tank.