Thoughts on Salt/Sodium

LavenderBouquet

Hey everyone :flowerforyou:

I've been hearing varying things about sodium intake on MFP and articles elsewhere, and I'm not really sure where I stand. I never used to track my sodium intake until the last few years, but noticed I typically ate above the recommended dosage. I have always had normal to low blood pressure and I now noticed that in the past couple months while switching to primal (and lower sodium levels) my hands and feet have been freezing almost all of the time. I also noticed that days after eating considerably over my salt intake (currently set to 1500mg) I'm drastically less cold, if at all. I'm curious on your opinions/comments on this issue. Do you think my reduced sodium has caused my cold hands/feet. Do you worry about sodium intake?

Thanks!

strychnine7

I have no idea about salt and cold extremities but I know two other things:
1. Salt is delicious.
2. I eat large amounts of it.

Ha! Sorry... not very helpful.

hdlb

I have no idea about salt and cold extremities but I know two other things:
1. Salt is delicious.
2. I eat large amounts of it.

Ha! Sorry... not very helpful.

Yeah...me too.


I have never tracked my sodium intake. My husband is always on my case about using less, but hes some weird anti-salt guy. He hates it. My excuse is that I have low blood pressure and need lots of salt to keep it raised....

ETA: I actually do have low blood pressure, and the treatment prescribed by the doctor really is salty foods.

TS65

I have no idea about salt and cold extremities but I know two other things:
1. Salt is delicious.
2. I eat large amounts of it.

Ha! Sorry... not very helpful.

Yeah...me too.


I have never tracked my sodium intake. My husband is always on my case about using less, but hes some weird anti-salt guy. He hates it. My excuse is that I have low blood pressure and need lots of salt to keep it raised....

ETA: I actually do have low blood pressure, and the treatment prescribed by the doctor really is salty foods.

Interesting. Me too. Ive had both a doc and cardiologist tell me the same thing. I still track it to see where I'm at on it.

Shadowknight137

I have no idea about salt and cold extremities but I know two other things:
1. Salt is delicious.
2. I eat large amounts of it.

Ha! Sorry... not very helpful.

^Same.

I naturally - from my food choices - for a while was not having much salt, and let me tell you how much of a bloody miserable time that was: constantly thirsty, lack of sleep and water would run right through me, ie, I pissed like a stream 24 hours a day.
Not fun.

My thoughts are that salt is awesome. Helps me sleep (a bit) and stops me being so damn thirsty all the time - just takes a few pinches of salt on an unsalted meal, like sweet potato chips or rice and chicken/fish. Or just eat naturally salty things like, uh, bacon. Or seawater fish.

KBGirts

There is soooooo much salt in the SAD!!! It's in all the processed junk that people consume. I think once you go primal/paleo and you are cutting out that stuff, you obviously are reducing your salt intake overall. I suppose it's not so much of a problem to add a little salt to your food. Occasionally, I eat something really high in sodium and look at my diary like "WOW"! .... but I don't really pay that much attention in general. If you are eating a healthy primal/paleo diet then I think your sodium levels are just going to naturally be okay.

If you're feeling cold, it could be due to blood pressure.... I'm no doctor, but it makes sense. I am sure that overall you are going to be healthier, so maybe it will improve over time. I personally haven't experienced this.

mandabrett

I don't worry too much about salt. If I have something like ham I retain massive amounts of water. Overall though people who cook their food would get much less salt in their diet as a pp said. I say if you think something needs salt to taste good then add the salt and enjoy your meal!

Merci444

I eat tons of olives and I always wondered about sodium. I suppose though by not eating the processed foods that are full of hidden sodium it is not a problem. I olives and their saltiness

JSheehy1965

I eat tons of olives and I always wondered about sodium. I suppose though by not eating the processed foods that are full of hidden sodium it is not a problem. I olives and their saltiness

that's my thought exactly. I LOVE olives and their saltiness and eat them nearly every day. Since cutting out processed food and junk, I am not so worried about adding good kosher/sea salt to my recipes. I also drink a lot of water too, so I guess it all balances out in the end.

LavenderBouquet

Thanks for the input everyone. There are varying "recommended intakes" of salt around, it's hard to sort it out.

ukgirly01

Have to say I love the stuff, I season pretty much everything I eat, but then I make it all from scratch so it isn't exactly salt laden junk , so I'm not going to worry about it

Mrs_Duh

I don't worry too much about salt now. Since cutting out most processed foods, I know my salt consumprton has gone WAY down. I salt my foods freely, because I love salt!