Curious about your Sodium intake

aelunyu

Hmmm...sodium is very essential. It's why our tears and sweat taste salty....it's the mineral that is responsible for shuttling electrolytes into our bodies....eating 3000mg or 5000mg sodium is not exactly bad. The problem is that in modern society, and in modern diets, potassium does not counter-acting it.

Without getting into raw science, the body works on something called a sodium-potassium pump. Eat a lot of salt, and you should also eat alot of bananas.

In the end, I probably go from 2000-10000mg sodium a day. But I'm taking in average 5000mg potassium. Which literally neutralizes any negative effects that sodium may or may not have.

earlswimsuit

985

significance

On a normal day, when I eat only home-cooked food, my sodium is usually about half the recommended limit. I grew up with a father who had to limit his sodium intake, and I make my own (salt free) stock, which used to be the main source of salt in my diet.

If I eat out, though, I usually end up going over the recommended salt intake. Restaurant and take-away food is so high in salt!

TrishLG

Since I eat mostly unprocessed vegetables and do not add salt, my levels should be very low.
As far back as h.s. I saw my sister in law struggle to reduce sodium when pregnant, so I stopped using salt.
Then when my children were born, the peditrician told me that you never need to by salt and that if you try to avoid salt, you will still get more than the body requires.
So I do not use can food, except for tomatoes.
I do not use prepared foods.
I stick to mostly beans and vegetables.
I buy nuts and seeds raw. Not much salt there.
Some vegetables like celery are high in salt naturally.

samcat2000

My MFP goal is at 2500. Had no idea the AHA recommends only 1500 - thanks for this info. Yikes. I seem to hover around 2500 but have gone over and under. I have no issues with blood pressure and when my body is craving something salty I eat it! I usually do not add salt to any foods I cook at home, except guacamole (can't resist) and roasted potatoes. I can get sort of crazy with my salt mill...big problem for me because I can't measure what I'm adding so I try to not use it. I also have a small addiction to dark chocolate filled with soft caramel and topped with sea salt (coarse). I fully admit I'm in denial about how much salt tops one of these pieces of chocolate. :noway:

Yeller_Sensation

Anything between 2500 and 3500 mg.

My BP's always been at or below 110/60.