Stupid question about sodium.

pcox0624
pcox0624 Posts: 20
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I know I should know this, I'm 44 years old and have been struggling with my weight since I was a teenager, still needing to loose about 30 more lbs. I know sodium is not good for you as far as health but, how does sodium actually affect your weight? Does it just make you retain water?

Any information will be helpful.

Thanks!!!!!

Replies

  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    It doesn't have any LONG TERM effect on weight loss. The most it will do is make you retain a little bit of water. Water retention is temporary... UNLESS you have kidney problems, in which case you can get chronic edema (swelling), usually in the legs, feet, and hands... that's not as temporary.

    You need to worry about sodium if you have blood pressure problem. Otherwise... sodium is really not that big a deal. You don't wanna go crazy (you don't wanna go crazy on anything really), but you don't have to keep it low religiously.
  • pcox0624
    pcox0624 Posts: 20
    Thank you so much for the information:)
  • kaydensmom12
    kaydensmom12 Posts: 338
    You do need to worry about sodium even if you do not have high blood pressure! How do you think people get hypertension? Sodium does cause water retention, which can be temporary but if you are not watching your sodium and are continuously over your water weight will be also. It is easy to underestimate sodium, to think you are getting 2000mg when in reality you are getting 3000. So if you are concerned with overall health and not just getting "skinny" then please watch your sodium.
  • MellieR
    MellieR Posts: 34 Member
    I agree w/ kaydensmom. In full disclosure, I watch my sodium intake because of a balance issue (ears). Nowhere near high blood pressure for me but, it's always been an important number. Of course, if you avoid processed foods, it's easy to keep sodium levels low. Of course it matters! There are thousands (millions) of electrical impulses that go through your body every day and your sodium levels affect how well those messages are delivered. Think of it another way, if it didn't matter, they wouldn't push daily sodium limits on nutrition counts.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    You do need to worry about sodium even if you do not have high blood pressure! How do you think people get hypertension? Sodium does cause water retention, which can be temporary but if you are not watching your sodium and are continuously over your water weight will be also. It is easy to underestimate sodium, to think you are getting 2000mg when in reality you are getting 3000. So if you are concerned with overall health and not just getting "skinny" then please watch your sodium.

    This ^^
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Sodium has been shown to have pretty much no effect on developing hypertension. Sodium is actually a required nutrient, without it, you would die. That said, too much can be annoying, but as long as you get enough potassium and stay properly hydrated, it's not really a problem.
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    Sodium does NOT cause high blood pressure. Obesity, age, and genetics are the causes. Sodium will make high blood pressure higher if you are prone to high blood pressure.
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