Sodium & Fibre

Ms_Natalie
Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
I have been using MFP for approx. 4 weeks now and the weightloss I have seen has been fantastic...a total of 12lbs! Yay! However, I'm a little concerned about my sodium intake..I can't seem to get it anywhere near the desired amount! I'm really low on sodium...is this a problem and detrimental to my health?

I am also having a similar problem with fibre, although in the opposite direction..I seem to go slightly over with this. Although I'm not as concerned with this as the sodium, I would like to know if you guys have similar nutritional intakes?

You can have a look at my diary if you like to see if i'm going wrong in any particular areas?

Thanks ever so much...this website has been a lifesaver for me =)

Replies

  • catfan
    catfan Posts: 90 Member
    WOW. This is an usual post. Normally people have the opposite problem. I have no medical background but I would think the fiber being higher and the sodium being lower would be a great thing! Hope someone with some knowledge helps you out!
  • Holton
    Holton Posts: 1,018
    Looking at your food diary, I would guess that your entries were plugged in my other MFP users who did not document the sodium level in foods. I say this because I have found certain foods that I use, depending on which selection you make when offered many, there can be great variances in what is recorded for them. I try to use my own packaging when applicable and enter the information myself. Just saying that you certainly do look like you are eating very healthy and kudos to you, but find it hard to believe that there is 0 levels of sodium in some of your entries.
  • Ms_Natalie
    Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
    Really? I hope so =) Looking at my diary it is a very consistent trend too...I usually have 1700+ left of sodium?! maybe the foods I'm recording have not had the sodium levels on the database?

    I'm only up between 1 - 10 of fibre so i'm not too worried about that!
  • snookeroo
    snookeroo Posts: 2,058 Member
    Wow! is right! I always skyrocket past my allowed goals. Salt is in just about everything. And I don't add any (table salt) myself.
    Snack on pumpkin seeds. Seeds are good for you. You should be able to get extra sodium from them.
  • Ms_Natalie
    Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
    Thankyou Holton, I was thinking a very similar thing...I'll just keep my current eating plan as it is and try to note down the sodium levels myself using the packaging. Thanks ever so much for your advice :wink:
  • Ms_Natalie
    Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
    Wow! is right! I always skyrocket past my allowed goals. Salt is in just about everything. And I don't any (table salt) myself.
    Snack on pumpkin seeds. Seeds are good for you. You should be able to get extra sodium from them.

    I Love Pumpkin seeds and shall certainly be taking you up on your offer! Thanks
  • cheri03
    cheri03 Posts: 172 Member
    I have not looked at your log but I would guess that you are eating the right amount. Unless you actually read all labels, it is difficult to be under with sodium. I used to be a heart failure nurse and people had to be under 2000mg per day and no one could do it. I think the foods in the database are not labeled correctly. Sodium is in everything you eat, bread, meat, veggies etc. Also, eating more fiber is normal, the MFP goals are set too low. Adults really need more like 30 gm per day, not 18 like mine says!
  • miqisha
    miqisha Posts: 1,534 Member
    Alot of the things you eat seem to be prepackaged...so I find it weird that they have no salt

    However instead of adding your own and crowding the database

    Look at the label to see if there is sodium in them....if there are...then

    Look up the food in the database....when the food comes up....there is a blue link that says "nutritional info"...click on that

    Then it will ask you " is the info correct" there are so green tabs......"click No"

    And it will then ask if you want to edit it....Click Edit

    And proceed to update the existing information
  • PurplePumpkin
    PurplePumpkin Posts: 10
    I agree, it's better to edit others than add your own.

    Although this is a late comment and it seems that you have all the information you need, it does appear that your food are not correct in the sodium levels, and if you are eating mainly packaged foods then your sodium is more than likely higher!!

    The information that is most likely to be correct is calories, as this is what most people concentrate on.

    I have studies nutiriton at degree level, and have a degree in nutrition, please do not think that eating less salt than the minimum required amount is a good thing.
    Sodium is very important in your water regulation, if you don't have enough sodium you will become dehydrated!!!
  • Ms_Natalie
    Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
    Hi there, I wouldn't say a lot of my food is pre packaged...some of the meals I've noted are guestimates...like yesterdays lunch when I had a meal out with family. Most of my other food is fresh (like fish). I know my pasta is often pre packaged but sometimes there is no way around this.

    All my fruit and veg is fresh! I really have not got the time to cook all my meals from fresh ingredients as I'm studying for my psychology degree and have another mouth to feed in the house. As my current diet is working for me, I've stuck to what has been successful...but I vow to include more fresh produce in future meals.

    Thanks all for the great advice.
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