Question about sodium.

bjdw1
bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I see a lot of comments about sodium causing temporary weight gain and I have gathered it has something to do with water retention??? Could someone please explain this to me or provide a link?

Sorry if this has been done a million times before.

Thanks.

Replies

  • firedupfriend
    firedupfriend Posts: 140 Member
    I also have a question about this. I have read that if you do not have sufficient sodium intake that it does cause water retention. This makes sense to me as I put no salt on my food, not even when cooking. Water retention is a big problem for me.
    Recommended intake is 2300mg per day reducing to 1500mg after age 50. Sea salt is also better than table salt.
  • laurie571
    laurie571 Posts: 152 Member
    bump... i want to follow and see what comes of this question
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    Sodium and potassium go hand in hand when it comes to regulating fluids within the body. Best solution to end your concerns / wondering is to go to the doctor and get these both checked. If either is too high or too low, your doctor can recommend what to do, whether that be taking supplements or incorporating different foods into your diet. If your potassium and sodium are balanced and you drink enough water, you should have no issues with water retention.
  • uwdawg07
    uwdawg07 Posts: 372 Member
    All I know is that too much salt does cause the body to retain water. I can't find anything too specific/scientific, but this link does mention it http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sodium-na-in-blood
  • jkcrawford
    jkcrawford Posts: 435 Member
    Sodium and potassium go hand in hand when it comes to regulating fluids within the body. Best solution to end your concerns / wondering is to go to the doctor and get these both checked. If either is too high or too low, your doctor can recommend what to do, whether that be taking supplements or incorporating different foods into your diet. If your potassium and sodium are balanced and you drink enough water, you should have no issues with water retention.

    I agree, drink your water and it keeps you flushed out. Some days my sodium is high but I continue to lose weight as I drink the required water.
  • laxwyo
    laxwyo Posts: 192 Member
    Sodium and potassium go hand in hand when it comes to regulating fluids within the body. Best solution to end your concerns / wondering is to go to the doctor and get these both checked. If either is too high or too low, your doctor can recommend what to do, whether that be taking supplements or incorporating different foods into your diet. If your potassium and sodium are balanced and you drink enough water, you should have no issues with water retention.

    This! This! Potassium is so overlooked. You need 2 parts pottasium to 3 parts sodium. Or the other way around. It's called the sodium pottasium ATPase pump in your cells' wall. I can't remember too much more from physiology but its important.

    If you have too much sodium, water will enter your cells to equalize the concentration gradient and that's y u are retaining water.

    I never add salt to anything as we get plenty of sodium in today's diet. Pottasium on the other hand....

Categories