This can't be right, can it?

katieg2289
katieg2289 Posts: 184
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
MFP is telling me that I can eat up to 2500mg of sodium a day with the way I have things set, but that doesn't seem right to me, as I'm seeing a lot of people say 1500 should be the max. Can anyone explain this to me?

Replies

  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    The old recommendation for sodium was 2500. The recommendations were recently dropped to 1500. MFP just hasn't caught up yet.
  • katieg2289
    katieg2289 Posts: 184
    Oh, okay! Thank you for explaining that, it will help me so much! :happy:
  • givprayz
    givprayz Posts: 328
    Sodium is not an issue for most people. Yes, too, too much is bad, and the point at which you hold water is a little different from person to person, but salt does not effect blood pressure in most people as was once thought. Your body will flush excess salt, so it doesn't have long-term effects the way fat or even vitamin A does, for example. I am fine with my sodium set at 2500. It is impossible to eat any amount of convenience foods (even canned vegetables or boxed baking mix) without getting above 1500, so while I eat pretty cleanly for an American, I can't keep my sodium below an average of about 2000mg/day, which is fine for me. If you determine you are sensitive to sodium, go with the lower levels, but I am not, and I sweat heavily, so I am leaving my setting at 2500mg.
  • katieg2289
    katieg2289 Posts: 184
    Thank you, givprayz! I do sweat quite heavily also, so maybe I'll set it to 2000 and aim for that! I hadn't even thought about the sweat factor :)
  • juliana1977
    juliana1977 Posts: 153 Member
    It is very very hard for me to go below 2500 and I dont eat canned stuff or frozen boxed foods and very very little fast food.
    I do make sure I drinlk plenty of water!
  • kao708
    kao708 Posts: 813 Member
    I found this at the link below:

    Reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) and further reduce intake to 1,500 mg among persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. The 1,500 mg recommendation applies to about half of the U.S. population, including children, and the majority of adults.

    http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/ExecSumm.pdf
  • robertf57
    robertf57 Posts: 560 Member
    These recommendation are based on nothing! If you don't have high blood pressure or kidney problems, don't really worry about it unless you personally are holding onto water.
  • paulmmichaud
    paulmmichaud Posts: 59 Member
    These recommendation are based on nothing! If you don't have high blood pressure or kidney problems, don't really worry about it unless you personally are holding onto water.

    Thank you for saying this. I am 32 years old and have never had high blood pressure or high cholesterol. In fact based on my last physical I am perfectly fine. I am one who is not really concerned about sodium, and as far as I can tell don't need to be. I figure as long as I lose the fat and burn the calories off I'll be good.
  • katieg2289
    katieg2289 Posts: 184
    Thank you all for your replies! I guess I will learn as a little time goes by whether or not I hold onto water and need a lower sodium intake. I don't personally have diabetes or any other health problems along those lines, but since it runs in my family should I consume less, or only worry about that if my doctor says I'm borderline?
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