Understanding Sodium

zombiekookie

I am curious about my sodium intake. I've heard too much salt is bad for you. Yet, the site's suggested about of sodium for me is around 2000, and yesterday I kept it closer to 1000. Is too little sodium bad? What is a good amount? Should I meet the site's suggestion?

Game8

Here's the only thing you need to know about Sodium: You can keep it high, or you can keep it low, as long as you stay consistent. You can have 10,000 mg a day as long as you do that every day. Your body will adapt.

However, if your body is used to 2,000 mg of sodium a day and you jump one day to 7,000 mg, you will notice increased water retention the next day along with higher blood pressure and other undesirable effects.

craigineson

My two cents about sodium is thus:

It depends entirely on your diet. If you're eating a diet which has a reasonable amount of carbohydrates, you're going to store sodium. If you're on a low-carb diet, your body will drop sodium like a hot potato.

As such, people who eat reasonable amounts of carbohydrates should keep sodium level minimal and constant, matching it mg for mg with potassium - another key electrolyte involved in fluid balance.

People who eat little or no carbohydrates need to consciously eat more salt, as the body doesn't retain it in the absence of carbohydrates and insulin. In one low-carb dietary regime, they recommend drinking two cups of light stock per day to get sodium levels up.

drmerc

if you go too low you will die

zombiekookie

This was my fear.
I knew the mayans were right.

zombiekookie

Here's the only thing you need to know about Sodium: You can keep it high, or you can keep it low, as long as you stay consistent. You can have 10,000 mg a day as long as you do that every day. Your body will adapt.

However, if your body is used to 2,000 mg of sodium a day and you jump one day to 7,000 mg, you will notice increased water retention the next day along with higher blood pressure and other undesirable effects.

My two cents about sodium is thus:

It depends entirely on your diet. If you're eating a diet which has a reasonable amount of carbohydrates, you're going to store sodium. If you're on a low-carb diet, your body will drop sodium like a hot potato.

As such, people who eat reasonable amounts of carbohydrates should keep sodium level minimal and constant, matching it mg for mg with potassium - another key electrolyte involved in fluid balance.

People who eat little or no carbohydrates need to consciously eat more salt, as the body doesn't retain it in the absence of carbohydrates and insulin. In one low-carb dietary regime, they recommend drinking two cups of light stock per day to get sodium levels up.

Thanks, guys. I think I understand sodium and it's effects on my diet. Feel a little bit more confident in my choices about my sodium intake.