Sodium, bad and GOOD

I did some research on sodium this morning because i have heard so many arguments, it makes you gain weight, it increases cellulite, and those two are evil enough.

however, years ago, i went to the doctor because i black out a lot. i have since i was a little girl, and just never really said anything because hey, it would pass, and i was fine. i was totally conditioned into accepting it as part of my life. i still black out once in a while. some of you may have experienced this when you stand up really really fast and everything turns black. well, i could just be standing there, and everything would turn black, like i was totally blind, and would last for moments too long. it got bad a few years back when i would acctually have to sit down because i couldn't see a damn thing.

it is called a vasovagal drop.

in which case, i said, what do i do? he said 'drink coffee, eat salt, etc'

so the past couple years i probably overcosumed salt cause he didnt say how much...however, i can tell you, i haven't blacked out a lot. recently i have started to again! but i think i cut my salt too much since being on here.

in my research, and you can look it up, i don't have all the sources, it said to consume at least 500-2500 mg of sodium daily. and athletes should consume in the mid range of this.

some good things about sodium:
"What does sodium do for the body? There is no simple answer to this question. Too much sodium can cause serious health issues, but too little sodium can halt important bodily functions. If you know what sodium does for your body, you can be that much more conscious of the amount you consume on a daily basis. Part of keeping your body in check and maintaining your health is finding the right balance of foods. The following are just some of the many ways that sodium affects your body.

Sodium is an important electrolyte that helps maintain the balance of fluid in a person's body. This means that sodium helps to regulate the amount of water in and around your body's cells. If the fluid levels in your body are not balanced, your cells will swell and medical issues may occur.

Without appropriate amounts of sodium, your body may have a difficult time cooling down after intense exercise or activity. When the body is hot, you sweat. If you do not have enough sodium, your body may not sweat as much and you may then become overheated. This could then result in a stroke, exhaustion and dehydration.

Sodium is also important because it plays a major role in the regulation of your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high, it places you at risk for such illnesses as heart disease. Too much sodium can result in high blood pressure and could spark a heart attack and too little sodium could make you feel weak and exhausted all of the time.

This electrolyte plays an important role in ensuring that nutrients are passed into the body's cells. Similarly, if you want your nervous system to operate correctly, then you will definitely need the right amount of sodium in your diet. If you do not have enough sodium in your diet, you could even experience seizures"
http://www.life123.com/health/vitamins/sodium/what-does-sodium-do-for-the-body.shtml