Does sodium intake affect weight loss?

nicole__marie

I've noticed I've been consuming a lot of sodium.. everything else is fine but my sodium intake reaches 4,000 mg some days. What happens if you have too much sodium (other than water weight) and is this too much per day? Recently I've been having a lot of high sodium foods, and I need to stop, but I was just wondering how it will affect me.

Thanks!

healthygreek

I've noticed if I cook and salt my own foods, I do fine. If I eat Chinese takeout or have certain things at my favorite restaurants, I can gain 2 pounds from the tons of salt they use and it takes me 2 days of water drinking to make it go away.

jcperkns

It will just make you retain water. And yes, it's too much. You should have no more than 2500mg per day.

CharRicho

Are you eating out a lot?

Anywhere you guy your food out, you will find an over-abundance of salt (because it makes food taste better!)

My husband and I make almost all our food at home, and I am never anywhere close to the sodium goal. We just rarely use salt, in anything, and we buy stuff that doesn't have added sodium. But I have noticed that when we go out for meals, or I have a really busy day at school and have to grab food on the go, that adds a lot of sodium to my total.

If it's really the food you're making at home, then try to switch to low-sodium alternatives for your cooking, and don't add salt!