Sodium is NOT the bad :P

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  • Vkoons3
    Vkoons3 Posts: 122 Member
    Lowering the sodium intake I think is also one of the hardest problems I face in eating healthier. The other problem I have with this even though I am a salt a holic I have extremely low blood pressure and my sodium levels when I go to the doctor are always low and he tells me to get more sodium in my diet. I always have to laugh at this and then I tell him how I add salt to evertyhing and I mean practically every thing I eat . So with that being said it may be best to talk to your doctor and see what he says about your levels of sodium and how it will affect you. I don't know why my body doesnt hold onto the sodium maybe the way that it should and I am sure that it will one day catch up to me and I do have high blood pressure and heart disease that runs in my family so that scares me . Do what makes you happy and I do think that as you continue to eat healthier your sodium will decrease on its own without you even realizing it. Keep up the good work on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
  • Yocum1219
    Yocum1219 Posts: 400 Member
    Totally disagree. Sodium has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease for years. In fact, most dieticians, doctors, surgeons, personal trainers and holistic "gurus" will tell you that too much sodium will sabotage your diet. The most efficient way to lose weight and keep it off is to exercise, and cut back on fat and sodium.
    Unsure of this "fact"? Check out the MFP'ers who have lost weight. Not even the ones who lost 'some" but those that have dropped weight BIG TIME. Ask them what they think about the sodium controversy. From the horse's mouth and all that...

    I'll admit, too much without enough water...I can tell on those days (well, the scale shows it). And I do try to be more concious of my sodium, but I'm never under the MFP amount...never. I LOVE my seasonings!! If you have a medical condition that your Dr says you MUST cut back on sodium to correct, then I would listen to your Dr. But for those of us blessed enough to be able to flush it out of our bodies & still be on the right track...leave us be. My weight is coming off, I have more energy, and I'm a healthier person. Do you really want me to focus so much on one aspect that I get discouraged? I know I may have a genetic predisposition of BP to worry about in future years, but for now, I'm working on the calories portion of my life. I'll work on sodium later, if I have to.
  • kaytedawg05
    kaytedawg05 Posts: 209
    i'm always over in my sodium... bp 111/55 so hmmmmm.... what's a girl to do... i'm not worried about my salt one bit... i think its all much more related to our blood sugar than our sodium level... and more & more research is looking into that... If you're drinking lots of water and having a lil bit of mild diuretic like tea & coffee (and gosh who isn't??) plus working up a sweat several times a week... well u are depleting your salt constantly..

    now if you never work yourself up into a sweat and say u only pee twice a day... for peet's sake.. lay off the salt... no no ...dont''' JUST GET SWEATIN!! geesh.
  • delilah122
    delilah122 Posts: 41
    I have passed out twice from low blood pressure and my dr told me to make sure to eat some extra sodium, followed up alot of fluids, which helps keep everything at a good level. I carry a drink with me everywhere I go and pretzels as well and haven't had a problem since. I love salty foods so I like the dr's orders :wink:


    This might explain why I have such cravings for salt and have to include pretzels in my 1200 calorie diet. I've been seeing a neurologist for the last several years because of migraine headaches and we have them under control with a combination of Topomax and a blood pressure medication, even though I never had high blood pressure. As a result, my pressure is quite low, and I think my body craves the salt to counteract this.
  • cmmull67
    cmmull67 Posts: 170 Member
    Totally disagree. Sodium has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease for years. In fact, most dieticians, doctors, surgeons, personal trainers and holistic "gurus" will tell you that too much sodium will sabotage your diet. The most efficient way to lose weight and keep it off is to exercise, and cut back on fat and sodium.
    Unsure of this "fact"? Check out the MFP'ers who have lost weight. Not even the ones who lost 'some" but those that have dropped weight BIG TIME. Ask them what they think about the sodium controversy. From the horse's mouth and all that...

    from the horses mouth...I have lost approx 45 lbs in the last 5 1/2 months. I don't pay much attention to sodium for a number of reasons; 1) I live in Florida where we sweat tons, 2) I drink more than 100 oz/day of non-caffeinated liquids, and 3) my BP just yesterday was 118/70.

    Sodium is not the sole factor in BP issues. In fact, being in a high heat environment where sweat is a way of life, higher sodium is probably better to replenish the lost sodium through sweat. Genetics play as much a factor in BP though, or more. My ex-wife has perennial high BP, she watches her sodium, eats potassium rich foods, exercises, and still needs BP meds...so sodium is not the culprit.
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    Sodium is not the sole factor in BP issues.
    Nobody said it was.

    BP is not the sole factor regarding sodium intake.
  • SarzWix
    SarzWix Posts: 21 Member
    http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v104/n1/full/6605993a.html

    "Conclusion: Our results support the view that salt intake is an important dietary risk factor for gastric cancer [...]"
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    Every body requires salt. Just like your body lets you know when it's thirsty and needs water, your body also lets you know when it's not getting salt.

    Yes, sodium and salt will make you retain water, if you are not drinking enough water. You can drink soda waters, juice, etc. all day long, but water is the thing that will get rid of the retention.

    Your immune system have to work over time to get the water out of the soda water, juice, etc. that you drink. Don't make things hard for the body. Make water your number one drink.
  • Schwiggity
    Schwiggity Posts: 1,449 Member
    It's different for everyone. The younger we are, the less sodium will play a problem in the short term. It towards the end of my list of things to worry about.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    In the UK we are recommended to have no more than 6 grams of salt a day. That's 6000 mg. 2 grams for children under 5. People eating 500mg a day are not getting anywhere near enough, especially if they are exercising or in hot climates. I get bad cramps when I cut down my salt intake, and I have low blood pressure.

    My son has one kidney, and even his paediatric nutritionist says up to 2g (2000g) of salt a day is no problem at all, and he's a small 3 year old.

    Perspective, people.
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