Curious about your Sodium intake

CaddieMay

Ever since my dad was put on a low-sodium diet, I've been vigilant about the high-sodium content of many foods. And now that I've been eating healthier, I am even more aware of the amount of sodium that I consume. So I was curious about everyone's daily sodium intake. I try to keep mine around 1500mgs. You?

rosemariet1956

I have been keeping tabs on my food intake since the new year and what i found is that it is more difficult to control the sodium intake than calorie intake. I am also trying to keep it at 1,500 mg per day but since almost everything has sodium iy is the most challenging thiing to try and modify. If anyone has secrets to share I"m all hear .

wahmx3

I try and keep mine to under 1800 but isn't always easy. I read labels and watch what I choose to eat.

krickeyuu

I switched from 2500 to 1600 and am now off my HBP meds with healthy blood pressure readings. It is amazing how hard it is to stay under 1600--it NEVER happens if I eat dinner out.

ladymiseryali

I try to keep mine under 2500,

rosebarnalice

I haven't changed my settings form the default of 2,500, but I rarely consume more than 1,800.

My Mom never cooked with salt, so I never developed a taste for it--and fortunately for me, my husband is similarly averse.

Although it lurks in lots of foods, I'm fairly sensitive to it, so I've checked sodium levels on labels and asked restaurants to PLEASE not add any salt to my food for years.

Now pepper. . . .. THERE's another story. . . .

CaddieMay

Thanks, everyone. I thought I was being a bit overly cautious, but I see we are all within a similar range.

Lostone31

Try increasing your potassium intake to help.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09355.html

There are a lot of links out there about sodium vs potassium.

GwenBurnell

My father has the same problem and I taught him to look for low sodium or zero sodium foods. The main items to avoid are salad dressing, lunch meats, canned soups and of course pickles. Making your own are the easiest ways to avoid them. Since we need sodium I don't worry about my numbers when it is coming from fresh foods.

magerum

I'm typically between 4500 - 5000 mg daily. My resting heart rate is 58 & BP around 105/65.

findingmyfit

I'm aiming for 1500 mg or less.

MoreBean13

Several thousand.

CyberEd312

Never tracked a single gram and still don't.......

yourenotmine

I salt.

stumblinthrulife

I look to keep it under 2300, and no more than 1000 in a given meal.

As another posted said, this is generally impossible if eating out.

fit4lifeUcan2

My cardiologist wants me to stay around 1400 mg's a day. I don't always hit that or stay under it but I certainly try. A lot of foods have salt in them naturally while others have it pumped in. I was surprised to find out that my favorite chicken breasts are injected with a solution that contains salt so I've switched to free range organic chicken breast. I water down my salad dressing to help cut the salt as well. They usually taste too strong to me anyway. Cheese also has a lot of salt so thats another area I need to work on. Love my cheese. But other than that I never cook with salt. Never add it to my food and don't eat out much.

themedalist

I aim for no more than 1500 mg/day but usually hover in the 1500 to 2000 mg range. Though some people do not seem adversely affected by sodium, it's worth noting that the American Heart Association modified its recommendations last fall and now recommends that EVERYONE limit their daily sodium intake to 1500 mg/day (not just high risk groups). See: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/new-studies-reinforce-american-240224

ncmedic201

I was put on BP medicine in November so I have drastically cut back. I'm now taking in between 1000-1500 mg a day. I've learned to cook with herbs and spices. I don't buy any processed foods anymore....not even salad dressing. My co-worker told me how to make a really good dressing that I absolutely love now! All it is, lemon or lime juice, a little EVOO, about a teaspoon of honey and whatever spices or herbs you want in it. I like to use Italian spices in mine. Also, it's really easy to make food that is very low sodium and adding flavor with herbs and spices and maybe a dash of Cayenne pepper.

Akious

I almost have hbp simply because of salt. My intake is disgusting. I try to keep it as lot as possible but most of the time its hard to stay around my goal of 1600. There is salt in EVERYTHING. Even the stuff that doesn't need it. I swear salt has salt to top it off.

FutureSkinnyMama03

I usually try to keep an eye on it & stay on target but just had a really off day of over 4000! The scale will probably show it in water retention if I decide to step on the scale in the morning.

Willbenchforcupcakes

At least 2500mg. Resting heart rate is low 60's, bp is 105/65. If I don't keep my sodium up, I get dizzy and light headed.

charovnitza

I never track it. I love salt, use it all the time, and my bp last Friday was 90 over 70.

chrisdavey

average around 3000mg it seems.

Agreed re sodium vs potassium.

Also, sodium is a required mineral and having too little is also not a good thing.

LilacDreamer

My goal is customized to 1,800 mg of Sodium and I try my hardest to never go over that

rockerbabyy

i track it but not to make sure i dont go over it - just to balance it out with potassium as much as possible. i usually get close to 3500mg/day, some days more, some less..today i had 5030.
i dont worry about it much because my blood pressure is kind of on the low end (105/60 at my last prenatal appt, normally 110/70).

My0WNinspiration

1800

monty619

nothn that bad about sodium unless u have heart problems or regulating blood pressure.. should be the least of your worries especially if you exercise regularly then you actually would need more sodium if you are an athlete.

nataliescalories

Around 2500.

acogg

I gain water if I go over 1500 mgs. I am struggling with getting my sodium levels dialed in right now. My potassium is good, I just seem to be overly sensitive to sodium. This happens to be a reason that I am sticking around MFP. I would have never known or tracked or cared if it weren't for MFP. My blood pressure readings at stores and a new cuff have also been high. I made a doctor appointment today to get it professionaly checked. Old age isn't for the timid.

Shadowknight137

I don't track sodium.

Cp731

Thanks, everyone. I thought I was being a bit overly cautious, but I see we are all within a similar range.

I 'm happy too see that you got support from everyone, I find that its easier too ask and receive then too sit and wonder.
I track my sodium w/vigilance