Salt in my diet?

pantoinette
pantoinette Posts: 23
edited September 29 in Food and Nutrition
Hi All,

I've found recently that I was feeling light headed and I collapsed a couple of times - my friend suggested that I may have low blood pressure and told me to try taking in more sodium (or salt).

Anyone got any ideas what I can eat that has salt in it so that I don't have to resort to junk food to keep my levels up?

Thanks a million!

Replies

  • Lewre
    Lewre Posts: 22
    I would see a doctor if I were you just to be sure that's the problem. Collapsing isn't something to be taken lightly. Good luck! :)
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    After looking at the last week or so of your diary, I strongly doubt that lack of sodium is your problem. Lack of vitamins and other nutrients might be a better guess.
  • SavannaN
    SavannaN Posts: 148
    Ive noticed that cheese has alot of sodium in it so check that out
  • alifer
    alifer Posts: 387 Member
    My doctor told me to increase my sodium. I snack on lightly salted peanuts, pretzels or popcorn. Or you could just add salt to some of your food. Also mexican food is pretty high in sodium
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I would suggest seeing a doctor before doing anything. There are a few possibilities for light-headedness. It could also be an iron deficiency causing anemia.

    If the doctor recommends increasing your sodium intake, just do it the old fashioned way, add a little pure table salt to your meal. It's amazing how it can add up. Just an 1/8 of a teaspoon has 590mg of sodium.
  • pantoinette
    pantoinette Posts: 23
    Thank you all for your advice - it's quite difficult for me to get into the doctors - and when I do they just fob me off, but I feel better now - so I don't know what they would say if there are no symptoms to report! I shall try a handful of peanuts here and there then - and citrus girl, I shall invest in some multivitamins, and make sure I'm getting what I need!

    Thanks again!
  • janiepumphrey
    janiepumphrey Posts: 59
    I looked at your food log too - you're getting plenty of sodium. Please see a doctor so they can figure out what's causing your lightheadedness.

    Did you take any medications on the day you felt lightheaded?

    Sodium deficiency is the kind of thing that would happen to someone who's eating 100% unprocessed foods, buying everything from the meat or produce or bulk section of the grocery store, not eating anything that comes from a box or can, not eating anything with an ingredient list more than 1 item long, not eating at restaurants, cooking everything from scratch, with no added salt at all. Your diet isn't like that.
  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    Not sure I would go with that, see a Doctor and add sodium to your diary so you can track it and tell the Doctor what you have been intaking.

    Maybe you need vitamin or an iron supplement but only a Doctor can tell you for sure. This is not something any friend can answer!

    Good Luck!
  • pantoinette
    pantoinette Posts: 23
    I looked at your food log too - you're getting plenty of sodium. Please see a doctor so they can figure out what's causing your lightheadedness.

    I'm gonna try and book myself into the doctors - as I say below they do try and fob me off, but if so many people are concerned, I shall make the trip!
  • alifer
    alifer Posts: 387 Member
    Definitely talk to your doctor. I was in for my yearly checkup and bloodwork - that's when she told me my soduum was low. Some of the foods I noticed in your food diary are already notoriously high in sodium. Ham and bacon are very high. You can also add a couple more nutrients to track and see how high your sodium is already. I know I was completely shocked that I needed to increase mine, but I hate salt and buy low sodium everything. A habit I am trying to change after 25 years of avoiding salt.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    Oh yeah, adding sodium to your nutrients tracked in your diary is a good idea. Go here:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    and select "sodium" as one of the drop down options, and save.
  • pantoinette
    pantoinette Posts: 23
    Oh yeah, adding sodium to your nutrients tracked in your diary is a good idea. Go here:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    and select "sodium" as one of the drop down options, and save.

    I've done that, and I've hardly hit my sodium 'target' at all. Are you supposed to hit it like you are with the calories?
  • alifer
    alifer Posts: 387 Member
    I looked at your food log too - you're getting plenty of sodium. Please see a doctor so they can figure out what's causing your lightheadedness.

    Did you take any medications on the day you felt lightheaded?

    Sodium deficiency is the kind of thing that would happen to someone who's eating 100% unprocessed foods, buying everything from the meat or produce or bulk section of the grocery store, not eating anything that comes from a box or can, not eating anything with an ingredient list more than 1 item long, not eating at restaurants, cooking everything from scratch, with no added salt at all. Your diet isn't like that.

    Not true for me. I just buy low sodium everything. I don't cook all meals from scratch, I do eat processed foods, but sodium levels are low anyway.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    Oh yeah, adding sodium to your nutrients tracked in your diary is a good idea. Go here:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    and select "sodium" as one of the drop down options, and save.

    I've done that, and I've hardly hit my sodium 'target' at all. Are you supposed to hit it like you are with the calories?

    No, it's a maximum. The minimum your body needs daily is 500 mg. You are getting enough.
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