What's the deal with Sodium?

I am amazed at how much sodium is in food you eat out!! I am not really worried about keeping my sodium to a specific level but if you eat out at all it's almost impossible to keep your sodium levels anywhere near the RDA.

Basically...it makes you retain water. That's a bad thing in a nut shell...along with other health factors...like high blood pressure...

Sodium kinda gets a bad rep. It is needed actually for all the electrolytes in our bodies to remain even. We do need it. But not in large amounts. It can cause the body to retain water and often causes high blood pressure. The thing is...almost everything we eat has sodium in it. And it is recommended that we only have around 2000+/- mg a day. Many people equate sodium and salt as the same thing and it's not. So watching just your salt can be deceiving. Like anything else, it is good in small amounts
Hope that helps a bit.
~Ans~

Recommended sodium intake for a healthy person is about 2300 mg daily. If you have an underlying health problem, like heart disease, it's 1500 mg. Processed foods, such as breads, cookies and crackers, soups, canned chili and stews, salad dressings, sauces, deli meats, frozen meals (even those labeled "diet"), restaurant meals, condiments like mustard, pickles, dairy products, and even some beverages can have exceptionally high sodium levels. Start tracking your sodium and you'll be shocked. Not only does excess sodium mask weight loss, it can make your heart work harder. A sign of too much sodium is swelling in feel, ankles, legs and fingers. I started tracking my sodium a month ago and when I keep it below 2200 mg, I see noticable results at the scale, my blood pressure is lower, and I feel better. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, using herbs and spices in place of salt, and drinking plenty of water is one way to keep your sodium intake in check. Read nutrition labels before buying a product, and request salt-free options at restaurants.

One final note--sea salt is not a sodium-free replacement for table salt. Both contain nearly the same amount of sodium. There are salt substitutes available for those who crave the taste of salt.