Does anybody know why I'm told to increase sodium intake ?

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  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Here's a good page explaining why we have iodized salt in the US. It goes back to World War I when a lot of recruits from areas with little iodine in the soil had goiters, making finding healthy troops a problem. Nowadays, with our food coming from many sources and a balanced diet, iodine deficiencies are less common. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509517/
  • eileenmccaskey
    eileenmccaskey Posts: 5 Member
    As someone with extremely low blood pressure ( pass out a couple times a week from it). Doctors recommend more cardio to get heartbeat up. My salt intake is already through the roof so they didn't want me to increase it. There is not much out there that they can do medically for it, hope you have better luck treating it then I did.
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
    erica_k_jefferson wrote: »
    My doctor told me that a few years ago because I had low blood pressure.

    That's why my doctor tells me to both drink coffee and eat more salt. I don't eat more salt though, because I am also allergic to iodine, which we add to table salt and is naturally occurring in sea salt.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I nearly fainted ten days ago and finally got around to asking my (doctor) sister about it. Her opinion, low blood pressure from low salt. I had extra exertion the day previous and I just hadn't replenished as I should have. Lesson learned.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited June 2017
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Is there any point in buying iodised salt? We have a choice here (Australia) between regular table salt and Iodised salt.
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    Back in the day fresh ocean fish and salt water seafood was a rarity for anyone not living on a coast so iodine deficiency was common. Some smart person decided that fortifying salt with iodine was an excellent way to make sure people get their iodine (like fortifying milk with Vitamin D). These days, most people get enough iodine in their diets without needing it in salt. Some may still need it if they don't eat seafood or eat out at all (most restaurants will used iodized salt) but it is not necessary for the majority.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited June 2017
    MelissaPhippsFeagins wrote: »
    erica_k_jefferson wrote: »
    My doctor told me that a few years ago because I had low blood pressure.

    That's why my doctor tells me to both drink coffee and eat more salt. I don't eat more salt though, because I am also allergic to iodine, which we add to table salt and is naturally occurring in sea salt.

    One of the biggest misconceptions is that there is iodine in sea salt. The reality is that the amount in sea salt is the same as the amount in non-iodized table salt: almost none. Obviously, you know if any amount triggers your allergy but keep in mind that there is non-iodized salt available: non iodized table salt, sea salt (although some companies add iodine to this too), pickling salt, and kosher salt all have almost no iodine.

    Point of interest: ALL salt is sea salt. The only difference is if it is from recently evaporated sea water or ancient dried-up sea beds. One of the biggest salt domes in the world is under Avery Island, where Tabasco sauce is from.
  • Rubysue17
    Rubysue17 Posts: 24 Member
    I have high BP, so I have to be mindful of my sodium intake. A woman I work with has low BP and she was told by her doctor to eat more salt. She eats salt like crazy! There is so much "hidden" sodium in foods, I do not usually add salt to my food anymore, once in a while I do. I figure if I have a "taste" for it, I must be needing it. If you do not have low blood pressure or were not told by a phycican to increase it, I would just make sure to get around the recommended amount.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    We also still have no reason to believe that OP has been advised to increase her salt by anyone reputable.

    FYI, since it was an easy post to miss:
    JamieCroyle wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    JamieCroyle wrote: »
    mrsnattybulking wrote: »
    told by your doctor or told by your internet friend? Are you getting an unusually high amount of potassium in your diet by chance?

    I do eat alot banana's --- and ended up cutting out salt intake. Salty foods became my food addiction. What do you recomend I do> Do you know? Just asking I'm a bananaaholic

    Are you being told by a doctor?

    If you are eating high potassium and not getting enough salt, your electrolytes are out of balance. Not enough sodium is a bad thing. If this is indeed coming from the doctor, eat more salty things...salt your food, etc...don't go out of your way to avoid it.

    I was told by my dr's test results that they sent.

    So, reputable, but then the Dr ought to have a recommendation for how much of an increase is reasonable based on the results, yes? Are we talking add a pinch or two of salt per meal, or what?

    Also, the Dr ought to be able to give a rationale for why. There shouldn't be a need to ask us.

    Ah, thanks. Totally missed that, and I agree -- then the person to ask, including for why and how much, is the doctor. There are a variety of medical reasons it could be.
  • yoherbs421
    yoherbs421 Posts: 160 Member
    edited June 2017
    JamieCroyle wrote: »
    Hi mfp friends,

    Does anybody know why I'm told to increase sodium intake ? I have a few answers . I thought I'd ask again. Is anybody here have the same problem ? I have been told mostly it's low
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    It is now known that the old mantra of not exceeding 2300 mg of sodium (or 1 teaspoon of table salt) per day is not ideal for most people. Most need 3000-5000 mg per day for optimal health. The need for low salt in the average diet is now being recognized as a mistake.

    Damn. I was caring for one patient and after taking his vitals I told him his BP was pretty low and his HR was high. Then he told me "they said too much salt was bad for me". He wasnt that old around mid 60s. He succumbed to complications later that week. Low sodium is killer!
  • 1958lysmith
    1958lysmith Posts: 2 Member
    I have been told by doctors with several medical issues,too low sodium can cause seizures,heart attack.I have enough knowledge on electrolytes that too much water can effect electrolytes which are very imporant to watch.My sodium has gone too low where I have experienced extreme fatique and close to passing out.Need to make sure you are balancing water esp.when you excercise.Your body csn deplete sodium too much.
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