Drink __ oz. Water per ___ g Salt Consumed

mommyshortlegs
mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Any inklings as to how many ounces of water one should consume per gram of salt, to counteract the effects of the latter? Not counting the 12.5g of salt per 8 oz. of drinking water, of course. ;p What are other ways to reduce sodium levels in the body? (Obviously this question refers to sodium already consumed -- I'm well aware "decreasing your sodium intake, you silly" is the best solution.)

Thanks, all. :)

Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Forget about cups of water...it is arbitrary and makes no sense. You should be going by your hydration level, i.e. the color of your pee. Use the military hydration chart. If your pee is dark, drink more. Pee almost clear? You're good.

    http://usaphcapps.amedd.army.mil/HIOShoppingCart/Uploads/thumbnails/259A.jpg
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    Don't over-analyze it. Drink your water keep your sodium between 1500-2000mg a day and call it good.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I try to keep my sodium between 1500 and 2000 (hypertension)...doesn't always happen, sodium is just one hard *kitten* ***** to get out of your diet. Just plenty of water...urine should be almost clear, and get your potassium. Having hypertension I shoot for 4,000 potassium to my 2,000 sodium. If I have an overly salty day I equally try to up the potassium.
  • LadyPersia
    LadyPersia Posts: 1,445 Member
    8-8oz of water a day at the 2500mg of daily sodium requirement
  • mommyshortlegs
    mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
    cmriverside wrote:
    Don't over-analyze it. Drink your water keep your sodium between 1500-2000mg a day and call it good.
    That's all find and dandy until -- oops -- I exceed my sodium level for the day. ;) My goal, in general, is 3 liters/day.

    Thanks for the color test reminders, melsinct and cwolfman13. I recently started using toilet bowl refreshers that turn the water an intense blue, so I've lately been flushing blind. ;)
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    water won't counteract salt
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Drinking water really doesn't counteract the water retention effects of sodium. Sodium is an electrolyte. It must be balanced with other electrolytes for water to be able to pass in and out of your body's cells as needed. Eating too much sodium (or too little of other electrolytes, I learned the hard way) can throw that balance out of whack. Drinking water forces water to pass through the cell, but it also forces out the existing electrolytes. This will throw the electrolyte balance even further off. The cells will continue to hold on to water. If you wish to counteract the effects of sodium, increase your potassium levels, as potassium is the direct polar opposite to sodium.

    Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • cm196250
    cm196250 Posts: 14
    well said used !!!!!!!!!!!! to be husky
  • mommyshortlegs
    mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
    UsedToBeHusky wrote:
    [...] If you wish to counteract the effects of sodium, increase your potassium levels, as potassium is the direct polar opposite to sodium.

    Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
    Eeenteresting. Thank you, UsedToBeHusky. :)

Categories