How many oz a day are you drinking? Also sometimes too much salt makes me retain water a lot more. I ate sunflowers seeds for a whole week (seasoned shell kind) and noticed a lot of water weight. After I stopped eating them that weight quickly rid itself.

Friday was a decent sodium day, but you're probably massively dehydrated due to your exertion and the fact that you've been crazy low on sodium all the rest of the last week.... When I'm that dehydrated, my body will hold onto every drop of water/fluids I have like I'm in the Sahara.

Artemis68 wrote: »

Wow Knit, I just went back and looked at my food diary. I just added the sodium column with posting this discussion so I haven't been tracking it at all. I don't come anywhere close to 2000mg of sodium!

So if we're supposed to have that much sodium, what's the deal with all the reduced sodium stuff? I mean, I don't really use salt at all but I also don't buy those reduced sodium products either... so I thought I'd be getting just right amount of salt. (does that even make sense? lol)

Salt is part of an electrolyte balance. We need more of it when low carbing because our bodies process it differently. Carbs themselves cause water retention, but when less carbs are present, our bodies dump water, and then to keep balance, the body dumps sodium which dumps potassium and magnesium....we're then low on electrolytes and dehydrated. This effect doesn't happen the same in carb laden people, and some people with underlying issues (pre-existing high blood pressure or edema) have problems with excess sodium, and therefore reduced sodium products....

But essentially, we're using different fuel, so we need different additives for best performance. A truly balanced low carb diet won't need as much additions, but with soil depletion and pesticides and all that junk, it's really hard to know what you're getting, and if it is bio-absorbable, etc.

Artemis68 wrote: »

So if we're supposed to have that much sodium, what's the deal with all the reduced sodium stuff?

I know it'll shock everyone here, but I've seen articles indicating that the powers that be are suddenly realizing that salt is an essential part of our diet. Can't find them now for the life of me, but it's been recent.

I think the general warning to people about not eating salt, is because over the years a lot of people are buying ready made foods, stuff in bottles , jars, take aways etc, and salt is used a lot in these foods. However low carbers tend to make their own meals and eat a lot of protein and veg, and don't buy packets, jars etc . So we tend to forget the salt bit. Also the powers that be, make general statements then have to go back and correct them, but a lot of people rather cling to the old ideas. Remember when EGGS were the big bad thing, no more than two a week? now we are told eggs actually are very good for us. Ditto with the whole dairy thing, and red meat. None of these things are BAD, just moderate them with a bit of common sense. Another one is the new fad for natural sugar, sugar is natural anyway, it grows as cane, or in some cases as a beet, it is extracted and refined. However it is sugar, and whether you get the sugar from a honeybee, or sugar cane, or an apple, it is sugar, so a lot of what we read is just bumf that magazines and media like to feed us. the best thing is to listen to our bodies, . Avoid ready made meals, and if you need salt, add the salt.

I'm not saying salt isn't an important mineral, but I actually lose weight better when I limit my sodium to under 1200mg. Maybe my body is the exception? Not sure. That's one thing I do pay close attention to and if I consume too much over that, I'll see water weight gain on the scale. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I've seen weight loss every day for over a week now and my sodium is under 1200mg.

minties82 wrote: »

I had around 5,000mg of salt yesterday and it was the first day in at least a week and a half where I did not binge, or at least feel the strong urg to. Today I feel fabulous, really happy, energetic and not as hungry. I keep forgetting to put salt on my meat.

I know eh? That just happened to me too!! Crazy! But great feedback! I find my body has such clear signals now. I just have to learn what each one means.

lauraesh0384 wrote: »

I'm not saying salt isn't an important mineral, but I actually lose weight better when I limit my sodium to under 1200mg. Maybe my body is the exception? Not sure. That's one thing I do pay close attention to and if I consume too much over that, I'll see water weight gain on the scale. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I've seen weight loss every day for over a week now and my sodium is under 1200mg.

Wow, that is interesting. But, it's great that you know that about you and it's good to let others know as well. This board may have the majority of people upping their sodium, but it's good to remind people as well, that everyone is different and you need to listen to your body and tweak things to fit the body you're driving!

I find that the longer I'm keto, the more my salt needs have returned to closer to normal levels. I still salt my food, and I salt my LOADED TEA (but that's critical to the primal/egg part), but I don't worry about the broth (haven't had it in a month or so, I don't think...and the thought is currently unappealing) and such. Again, it's all about listening to our body's signals.

To me, it seems kind of like we have a new baby. We have to learn what each "cry" and "sound" mean again!