Is there such a thing as too little sodium in your diet?

Ramberta

I'll admit it-- unless it's something like chips or french fries (which I am trying to cut out of my diet), I hate salt. I almost never add it to anything, and certain things like alfredo sauce and canned soup often turn my stomach at how salty they are! I don't think I'll have a problem eating a low sodium diet as long as I stay away from fast food. However, the 'recommended' amount for me in my daily goals is 2,500 mg. That seems like quite a bit. Can anyone vouch for any *negative* effects from eating, say, half of that amount on a regular basis? Or is that normal? Are the daily nutrition goals just set up to give plenty of wiggle room, or is 2,500 mg daily a healthy level of sodium to be ingesting?

Thanks.

successgal1

Yes, you need sodium to live. However, salt is found in most foods, especially meats and animal based products, naturally. Go google different foods and see how much you can find. With low blood pressure I find that if I restrict my salt intake too much I become light headed and dizzy. Eggs have salt, adding ketchup on my eggs gives me more salt. If I use soy sauce I still go for low sodium because, like you, I find most things too salty. Electrolyte drinks have salt. V8 is a good source of salt if you are looking for one. And they have a low sodium version.

I also NEVER add salts directly to food except a dash in pasta cooking water and I do like a touch on red meat. Other then that I have to actually think about getting ENOUGH as opposed to eating too much.

Firefox7275

I'll admit it-- unless it's something like chips or french fries (which I am trying to cut out of my diet), I hate salt. I almost never add it to anything, and certain things like alfredo sauce and canned soup often turn my stomach at how salty they are! I don't think I'll have a problem eating a low sodium diet as long as I stay away from fast food. However, the 'recommended' amount for me in my daily goals is 2,500 mg. That seems like quite a bit. Can anyone vouch for any *negative* effects from eating, say, half of that amount on a regular basis? Or is that normal? Are the daily nutrition goals just set up to give plenty of wiggle room, or is 2,500 mg daily a healthy level of sodium to be ingesting?

Thanks.

That is the maximum based on official recommendations not optimal intake. Many of the entries don't list sodium so you can't track it without checking every entry you use. Most people get enough sodium from a balanced diet - it's naturally in fish and other seafood, various plants.

Chief_Rocka

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22914535

ldrosophila

I wouldnt worry unless your drinking unusal amounts of water, sick like vomiting/diarrhea sick, or during some sort of endurance activity you should be safe. If you eat any sort of condiment or any processed food including "healthy" food like protein bars you should be getting enough to support your needs.

Oh and if you like it cheese and cottage cheese are loaded with salt! My favorite is v8, but I'm a salt freak I love to try salts from around the world. Add it to my corona! MMMMM salt...oops sorry went of on a tangent.

TheBlackestBeauty

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/sodium.shtml

I think you will find this interesting. Our minds always turn to salt. I don't use salt anymore. Never when cooking and if I add some it is only a very small amount. The lack of potassium is more concerning than the lack of sodium because it causes muscle spasms. When it's dangerously low or dangerously high it is deadly. This article talks about the types of sodium, sources and some other things I found interesting. You may or may not agree. Just thought I would pass it along.