Salt?

RosaliaBee
RosaliaBee Posts: 146 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm constantly seeing stuff on TV and in magazines telling us we all need to reduce our salt intake.
I like salt, I like my food to be well seasoned and I use it fairly liberally in home cooked food.
My blood pressure is healthy to low. Is there any genuinely good reason for someone like me to cut back?
Or is it only an issue if you happen to have high blood pressure?

Replies

  • SupermanRitz
    SupermanRitz Posts: 59
    Daily allowance is about 2500mg/day, which is rather reasonable. I wouldn't worry too much about it but that doesn't mean you can go crazy and consume high salt foods at all times of the day. If you're constantly seeing advertisements and people preaching moderation in salt intake I wonder what exactly you're looking at and what you're looking for. If you're watching something like Dr. Oz (?) or Dr. Phil, reading health magazines like 'Prevention' then it's not exactly the message but the medium. Unfortunately we live in a society where we address issues once they've become a problem and these shows and media are targeted toward someone looking to fix a problem.

    Just be smart about it and you'll be fine. Be sure to drink plenty of water as well.
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    Yes, I don't track salt at all. It hasn't affected my weight loss, but I will avoid the scale for a few days if I had a high sodium day.
  • mamacoates
    mamacoates Posts: 430 Member
    Salt causes water retention which can be hard on your heart as your body works to process the elimination of it. The added water retention also affects your scale weight ... so you have to figure out what works for you based on your goals here at MFP.

    Most foods already have a sufficient amount of salt in them to assure you are getting sufficient sodium in your diet. I do not cook with salt. Instead, I let people add salt to their own liking. As you get older, it is healthier for you to watch your salt intake so if you can get used to using it in moderation now, it will be easier for you down the road.
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    I have friends who's doctor told them they need to add more salt to diet because blood pressure was too low. They have low blood pressure as common theme in their family genetics. They removed salt from their diet after listening to the mainstream propaganda, like dr oz, and in the end, it did them harm, and doctor told them to put it back in their diet.

    Perhaps get your blood work done and have a discussion with your doctor on this issue. You need to find out what's right for you. Good luck.
  • patols1
    patols1 Posts: 108 Member
    I have low blood pressure, when I would stand up I would black out and get dizzy for a few seconds. my doctor told me that is because when you stand up your blood pressure actually drops and to add more salt to my diet. it has helped. however I have always been a salt fan so adding more was a challenge for me.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm hypertensive so I watch my sodium intake but I don't go super low. A lot of studies are indicating that a lot of people are over doing it in RE to cutting sodium and aren't getting enough. I usually get somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000 - 2500 mg per day. If I do less then that I start cramping up on my workouts, etc. If I wasn't hypertensive I wouldn't worry about it at all...especially with the way I workout and sweat.

Categories