Is Sodium in EVERYTHING??

I keep an eye on it. I only go over when I succumb to Chinese food! If you'd like to add me as a friend you're welcome to look at my diary...

You can only gain so much water weight... Even if you do, it will not hinder your weight loss...

I have a problem myself with it, but I don't kick myself over it if I go a little over during the day. Something you may want to try is to plan your day if at all possible - maybe planning your day before or after your breakfast and see where you are for your sodium intake at that point if it means that much. Sometimes you can't and you're forced to make a best guess.

If you have a high sodium meal coming, you may need to stick to two lower sodium meals for the other parts of your day.

Again, if you go over by 100mg even 200mg and don't have hypertension or heart problems, I wouldn't sweat it too much, just try not to go over often. You do need to live your life every once in a while, as long as you keep it every once in a while and not every day, like I did for too long.

Freshly made foods usually (not always) have less sodium than packaged foods, and if you make it yourself, you can control how much sodium is in it by typing in the recipe and seeing how much is in what you (or others) are making.

Just a little food for thought. (Pun very much intended)

Okay, so I've been trying to pay attention to my sodium intake lately and I'm having one heck of a time staying within my recommended sodium macro (2,500mg per day). It seems the only way I can stay under that is if I don't add sauce/seasoning to anything - which come on, just isn't reasonable, much less sustainable. I think I eat pretty cleanly, mostly chicken and fish and LOTS of fruits and veggies, but today for lunch I had a salad with three ounces of grilled chicken and a few tablespoons of FF french dressing and the sodium in the salad alone was almost 1,300 mg!

Has anyone been able to consistently stay within (or under) the 2,500mg per day? If so, what are you eating? I'm supposed to be eating between 1,800-2,000 calories a day (depending on whether or not it's a heavy workout day or not) and I'm finding it's darn near impossible to keep my sodium counts low.

Do you suffer from hypertension and must keep your sodium low? If not, I wouldn't kill myself over worrying about sodium

This. For 90% of the world population, there's really no limit for sodium. Sodium can exasperate hypertension, but it doesn't cause it. So unless you have issues with hypertension, just ignore it.

Sodium is in a lot of processed foods & prepared dishes.Easier to avoid if you fix your own. If you're really wanting to do this - feel free to friend me & I'll try to help you. I stay under most every day with the occasional naughty one.

I think the problem for a lot of people is the hidden sodium in processed foods. Adding a bit of seasoning to meat shouldn't be that much of a problem.

Unless your blood pressure is a problem, don't worry about it too much unless you are way over the recommended amount. Sodium is found naturally in most things and is especially high in ready mad processed foods you buy. Try making your own versions of dressings without adding any salt, eg olive oil and lemon juice. Look on line for recipe ideas.

It is in everything...and I love it because I like salty things. I do desperately try to have as little as I can live with, if that makes any sense? I just....like salty things...and bread with flavour...and...and....I am trying to be good with it. Honest!

Hi, I have no problem with sodium am always under. Take a look at my diary its open. I rarely buy processed foods, sauces are mostly cooked from fresh, but take minutes to prepare. If I can give you any ideas, drop me a line. Cheers.

Don't look at my diary because I've been lazy on it lately, but I've really learned to use spices and good sea salts and those really bring out flavors more than just table salt and jarred sauces. Some salts cut through meats better and really make all the difference in the world.

The next time you pick up your favorite packet of sauce read the ingredients - usually its common ingredients you can add individually or make your own seasoning mix - my favorite hot packet from the Asian place down the road is simply water, cayenne and salt.

They even make no salt added ketchup...I use that with a bit of sea salt on burgers and its much tastier and the sodium is lower. Fresh is best!

I stay under 1000 per day. I use fresh herbs and no salt seasonings like mrs. Dash and Kirkland organic no salt. I do care about my intake because I feel like crap if I eat too much of it and have terrible headaches and look like a swollen pig. I buy very low sodium tuna, no sodium bread, I avoid things like lunch meats and cottage cheese...anything in a package for the most part. I prepare and cook all my meals for the most part which makes it a lot easier to keep it low.

You didn't mention many processed foods so I'm gonna assume you know the sodium content in that. Sounds to me like your biggest problem is with seasoning your chicken and fish. I love the Mrs. Dash seasonings for meat. My favorite is garlic herb. Wish I could figure out the trick to using my own separate seasonings to taste that well, but I have yet to master that trick. I also use a salt substitute for things like raw tomato wedges and even add it to some dishes when I cook. Making my own salad dressings with oil and vinegar, just didn't work out for me. The lighter versions usually do have more sodium. Store bought dressings vary tons just by brand. The lowest I have found is a FF Poppyseed made by Maple Grove Farms of Vermont.

I watch sodium and try to keep it 2300 per day. I'm prehypertensive and ordered to be on the DASH diet. I've had to change the types of foods I eat and pay more attention to sodium counts than anything else. If I'm having a highish sodium meal, I'll balance it out with pasta and homemade sauce for one meal, or h ave rice as a side, or get as much potassium as I can in the hopes that it will beat out sodium for making molecules. :laugh:

Here's a site that has a listing of low sodium labels: http://www.lowsaltfoods.com/default.htm

I love cheese and I've cut cottage cheese out of my life (450Na per 1/2 cup). Armstrong cheese is as low sodium as I've found and eating Swiss cheese is really low. Looking at your deli for portions off a block or wheel. I traded in Kraft parmesan for a block of parmesan that I grate at home.

Unsalted, roasted nuts are great for snack. I like walnuts and almonds and they have potassium, too.

Unsalted butter is nice, but it has a ton of fat.

You'll maintain better control over sodium if you do more home cooking. I make my own spaghetti and pizza sauces, for instance. I add a little salt as I cook, but rarely at the table. I use frozen vegetables instead of canned, limit things like canned soups. I started doing this years ago because I was hypertensive (high blood pressure) and on diuretic therapy. Now it's just a habit. Once you get away from the salt, you find out how good foods really are.