Going over on sodium

Lisa1971

How do I do Atkins without going over on sodium????

witeowl

Don't worry about the sodium. In fact, many low-carbers need to add more sodium to their diet because it gets flushed out so easily. (Some drink bouillon before exercise and throughout the day in order to get more salt.)

Lisa1971

Thank you!

LaJaunaF

Don't worry about the sodium. In fact, many low-carbers need to add more sodium to their diet because it gets flushed out so easily. (Some drink bouillon before exercise and throughout the day in order to get more salt.)

but, that said, drink water. All day drink water. If you start to feel bloated it is because you need more water! Because a low carb lifestyle is a natural diuretic. you will become dehydrated very quickly! Drink water! Drink half your body weight in ounces a day!

Lisa1971

Thank you!

EricCowperthwaite

There is little evidence that you need to limit your sodium intake. I realize that your doctor (and every doctor and nutritionist and the FDA and etc.) tell you this. But the evidence about salt is all anecdotal ... except for one study where they killed lab rats by feeding them 60 times more salt per day than the average American consumes.

The most recent study of all known salt intake research reached the conclusion: "we do not know if low salt diets improve or worsen health outcomes."

Considering that we have been told for 30 years to not eat salt because it would kill us, this is a total indictment of the state of government supported nutrition recommendations. I no longer pay much attention at all to the FDA and nutrition industry's recommendations because of things like this.

This article is a good primer on the very bad science (really lack of science) related to salt and health.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

binknbaby

I've had the same concerns recently, but I've found in my own research that it's mainly about balance. Yes, too much salt can be harmful, but only if the intake of water is out of proportion.

As a midwifery student, pregnant mamas are encouraged to take in MORE salt, to balance the excess fluid and blood volume, and this is effective in preventing edema (swelling), and even pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure.

I kept thinking of it as a special category, but really it's the same premise for non-pregnant persons: that there simply needs to be a balance between salt and water. Too much salt is harmful, but so is too much water. That's why the best hydrators/replenishers are fluids with electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals like sodium and potassium that are essential for cell function. So we don't need to fear them, only make wise choices as to which forms of sodium we take in.

High-mineral salts like Himalayan and other "colored" salts are excellent sources of this balance of minerals. Table salt, on the other hand, is pure sodium, and so it functions differently in our bodies and can be harmful. Nitrates, found in many processed meats, are also harmful, as they, too, do not function the same as the balanced, high-mineral salts with lots of color.

So when you do take in salt, use a high-quality, high-mineral salt (Himalayan, sea salt, salt with *color*!), and avoid table salt, nitrates, and other processed salts that only have the "bad" effects of sodium, rather than the beneficial effects of all those lovely minerals.

EricCowperthwaite

Oh yeah, good point Binknbaby. I forgot to mention that water, sodium and potassium together are necessary for proper cell function. When you drink gatorade because it contains "electrolytes", you are basically drinking a mix of those three things, plus sugars to restore blood sugar. Gatorade doesn't refer to drinking sodium because salt has gotten such a bad rap. But that's what you are doing. You can't, for example, build the amino acids that give you muscle without a good water/sodium/potassium balance. Sports nutritionists know this and more or less ignore all the salt hysteria.

Honestly, sports nutritionists and weight lifters are some of the greatest sources of nutrition info around. Far better than all the mainstream stuff out there.