Sodium

abberbabber
abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
edited December 19 in Food and Nutrition
So just out of curiosity, I started tracking my sodium. Today, I'm like waaaaay over the MFP setting for it, and I'm curious if it's that important for someone who doesn't have any issues with blood pressure or anything. Thoughts?
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Replies

  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Sodium causes water retention, which requires the heart to work harder to pump the excess fluid around, eventually it gets tired.
    Recommended intake is 1500-2000
    Diets high in sodium may create some heart and renal problems in older adults like congestive heart failure, so learning to eat within the range is important, even if you dont have issues with BP now.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Sorry :blushing:
    Im a Nurse and a creeper... lol
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Sorry :blushing:
    Im a Nurse and a creeper... lol

    LOL!!! No, that's why I asked. I'm not going to make any drastic changes, but I'm going to see how I do day to day...I think it's because I had soup at Panera lol. But it's good to know that it's something to keep an eye on, even now. Thanks!!
  • missprincessjenny
    missprincessjenny Posts: 104 Member
    Sodium causes water retention, which requires the heart to work harder to pump the excess fluid around, eventually it gets tired.
    Recommended intake is 1500-2000
    Diets high in sodium may create some heart and renal problems in older adults like congestive heart failure, so learning to eat within the range is important, even if you dont have issues with BP now.

    I'm a RN too. I said the exact same thing on another similar post and got told off :)
  • lyndall5311
    lyndall5311 Posts: 146 Member
    Bump for later - I'm interested in this as well.

    Ive just started tracking mine (was 1000 over yesterday), but mine came from potato and ham.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Sodium causes water retention, which requires the heart to work harder to pump the excess fluid around, eventually it gets tired.
    Recommended intake is 1500-2000
    Diets high in sodium may create some heart and renal problems in older adults like congestive heart failure, so learning to eat within the range is important, even if you dont have issues with BP now.

    I'm a RN too. I said the exact same thing on another similar post and got told off :)
    ...why?
  • missprincessjenny
    missprincessjenny Posts: 104 Member
    Sodium causes water retention, which requires the heart to work harder to pump the excess fluid around, eventually it gets tired.
    Recommended intake is 1500-2000
    Diets high in sodium may create some heart and renal problems in older adults like congestive heart failure, so learning to eat within the range is important, even if you dont have issues with BP now.

    I'm a RN too. I said the exact same thing on another similar post and got told off :)

    The poster told me that salt doesn't cause high blood pressure.I had to go check actually because I didn't care enough to remember :)
    I argued it does...fluid overload, overworks the heart, the arteries become damaged and constrict... I know what I was taught in school. And I know it hasn't changed.
    ...why?
  • missprincessjenny
    missprincessjenny Posts: 104 Member
    That didn't quote properly for some reason...I wasn't asking why at the end.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Not to scare anyone but heart failure isn't fun
    Usually if a person has had the condition for awhile, both sides of the heart are affected. Because the heart can no longer pump effectively fluid gets backed up: into the lungs causing breathing difficulties and exercise intolerance and also throughout the rest of the body resulting in swollen limbs which create more problems.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Well thats weird. I am pretty sure it does-indirectly have an association with BP in combination with other things.
  • toomuchsweetness
    toomuchsweetness Posts: 168 Member
    Sodium causes water retention, which requires the heart to work harder to pump the excess fluid around, eventually it gets tired.
    Recommended intake is 1500-2000
    Diets high in sodium may create some heart and renal problems in older adults like congestive heart failure, so learning to eat within the range is important, even if you dont have issues with BP now.
    If people ask for advice here how can the get pissed off and tell u that u are full of it??? Im not a nurse and i know too much sodium is bad for you... I drink at least 10 glasses of water a day and peeeeeeeeeeeee constantly,,,,, unless I have had too much salt, then it comes to a screeching halt ...I think your advice is good advice!
    I'm a RN too. I said the exact same thing on another similar post and got told off :)

    The poster told me that salt doesn't cause high blood pressure.I had to go check actually because I didn't care enough to remember :)
    I argued it does...fluid overload, overworks the heart, the arteries become damaged and constrict... I know what I was taught in school. And I know it hasn't changed.
    ...why?
  • toomuchsweetness
    toomuchsweetness Posts: 168 Member
    wow,, my quote within a quote didnt work correctly either. :( Sorry for the confusion.
  • VMarkV
    VMarkV Posts: 522 Member
    Sodium in itself, does not cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure is occurs when your kidneys can't filter enough salts like sodium. Your kidneys adapt to a regular sodium intake, when you go over that value, the excess salt can't be filtered out and water will be retained (since water always follows salts) causing an increase in blood volume, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

    But, your kidneys can adapt to salt intake. The kidneys aren't as fast at compensating as the lungs...they take roughly 3-5 days to adjust to higher salt intake.

    Intake a CONSISTENT amount of sodium and there will be no water retention (causing elevated BP) since your kidneys will be adapted to filtering that amount on a daily basis
    I consistently get about 10g salt a day, BP is 106/68mmHg

    You only need to limit salt if you have kidney impairment (diabetes)
    I am so sick of people not having a clue about sodium or how kidneys work
    <---Pharmacy student/chemist/science dork/anatomy physiology dork
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Sodium in itself, does not cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure is occurs when your kidneys can't filter enough salts like sodium. Your kidneys adapt to a regular sodium intake, when you go over that value, the excess salt can't be filtered out and water will be retained (since water always follows salts) causing an increase in blood volume, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

    But, your kidneys can adapt to salt intake. The kidneys aren't as fast at compensating as the lungs...they take roughly 3-5 days to adjust to higher salt intake.

    Intake a CONSISTENT amount of sodium and there will be no water retention (causing elevated BP) since your kidneys will be adapted to filtering that amount on a daily basis
    I consistently get about 10g salt a day, BP is 106/68mmHg

    You only need to limit salt if you have kidney impairment (diabetes)
    I am so sick of people not having a clue about sodium or how kidneys work
    <---Pharmacy student/chemist/science dork/anatomy physiology dork

    Since your thighs look like they could crush a man's head, I'm not going to argue with you :laugh:

    So I'm looking back and it looks like I'm usually over MFP guidelines by about 1000....but what you're saying is that, if that's how I normally eat, it should be ok?
  • VMarkV
    VMarkV Posts: 522 Member
    Just intake a level that is satisfying to taste, and consume roughly that same amount daily
    It's why humans and wild animals crave salt...it's essential just like macros
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Interesting, if conflicting, answers. :smile: Thanks for chiming in y'all.
  • asteelman4
    asteelman4 Posts: 62 Member
    hmmm thank you for making this post because i was just wondering the same thing!
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Sodium can be bad for some and less bad for others. It's never good in excess and some times it takes years for this sort of thing to cause a detectable health concern. It is like smoking cigarettes, for some it is a killer,and for others it is just bad.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    And if you want to know what congestive heart failure is like, I can tell you it is not fun. I spent a week in ICU last year. Make healthy habits now.
  • peppiee
    peppiee Posts: 84 Member
    I have been tracking sodium since February and it's super frustrating. Things that shouldn't have salt do, like flavored oatmeal and cottage cheese, and anything containing tomatoes. Sometimes, I think it would be better to be oblivious.
  • VMarkV
    VMarkV Posts: 522 Member
    Sodium can be bad for some and less bad for others. It's never good in excess and some times it takes years for this sort of thing to cause a detectable health concern. It is like smoking cigarettes, for some it is a killer,and for others it is just bad.
    Wow...you did not just compare sodium intake to smoking. I really hope that was a joke
  • glennstoudt
    glennstoudt Posts: 403 Member
    Interesting, if conflicting, answers. :smile: Thanks for chiming in y'all.

    meh. for someone your age, stay under 2500mg and exercise.
    I personally adhere to the 1500mg recommendation for those of us in the pre-fossil stage of life.
    But a caveat on going low Na is to keep K up. If you don't get the right salts balance, and you go for a hard work out, cramping becomes a factor.
    So, in short, for most normal walks of life and activity, sodium is not a factor. If you want to track and find out, that's a very good thing.
    Most prepared and processed foods are sodium land mines since salt is a low budget flavor enhancer that can make many lousy things taste"good".
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Yes, healthy kidneys do adapt to filter excess salt
    As you get older it becomes more of a problem, that was what I was getting at.
    Still wouldn't recommend it in large quantities though.
  • ser0630
    ser0630 Posts: 223
    Sodium in itself, does not cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure is occurs when your kidneys can't filter enough salts like sodium. Your kidneys adapt to a regular sodium intake, when you go over that value, the excess salt can't be filtered out and water will be retained (since water always follows salts) causing an increase in blood volume, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

    But, your kidneys can adapt to salt intake. The kidneys aren't as fast at compensating as the lungs...they take roughly 3-5 days to adjust to higher salt intake.

    Intake a CONSISTENT amount of sodium and there will be no water retention (causing elevated BP) since your kidneys will be adapted to filtering that amount on a daily basis
    I consistently get about 10g salt a day, BP is 106/68mmHg

    You only need to limit salt if you have kidney impairment (diabetes)
    I am so sick of people not having a clue about sodium or how kidneys work
    <---Pharmacy student/chemist/science dork/anatomy physiology dork

    I like your explanation of how sodium and the kidneys work--and I've taken two years worth of anatomy and physiology.

    I know I need to work on reducing my sodium intake, partly because of a family history of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Yes, healthy kidneys do adapt to filter excess salt
    As you get older it becomes more of a problem, that was what I was getting at.
    Still wouldn't recommend it in large quantities though.

    What would be considered large quantities?
  • soilsrus
    soilsrus Posts: 1
    The Mayo Clinic has a nice article on sodium intake, some of which shows up in this thread:

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/NU00284

    Like so may other things, know your body and what its capable of. Eat and exercise accordingly.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Yes, healthy kidneys do adapt to filter excess salt
    As you get older it becomes more of a problem, that was what I was getting at.
    Still wouldn't recommend it in large quantities though.

    What would be considered large quantities?
    Im afraid to answer this now, I think over 2500
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    Some people are more sodium sensitive then others. I eat more than my limit and my blood pressure goes sky high and I retain a crap load of water. I guess those that say otherwise are not sensitive to it.

    Go check Mayo website. It is not good for ANYONE to go over especially if you are in a high risk group. The human body needs less than 50 mg a day (can't remember exact number and too lazy to look it up) so if you eat more than recommended 2300 mg you are already giving your body much more than it needs.

    According to what I have found, very few people can ever get off blood pressure meds if they go on. Do yourself a favor and just don't go there. I am on them and they suck beyond belief. I take them even an hour late and it throws me off for the day and I feel like crap.
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Some people are more sodium sensitive then others. I eat more than my limit and my blood pressure goes sky high and I retain a crap load of water. I guess those that say otherwise are not sensitive to it.

    Go check Mayo website. It is not good for ANYONE to go over especially if you are in a high risk group. The human body needs less than 50 mg a day (can't remember exact number and too lazy to look it up) so if you eat more than recommended 2300 mg you are already giving your body much more than it needs.

    According to what I have found, very few people can ever get off blood pressure meds if they go on. Do yourself a favor and just don't go there. I am on them and they suck beyond belief. I take them even an hour late and it throws me off for the day and I feel like crap.

    My bp is usually dead normally, or even low, so I don't *think* I'm super sensitive. But...there is a history of heart disease and whatnot in my family. Interesting stuff....
  • Blizz970
    Blizz970 Posts: 4
    OMG! I just started to track my sodium intake for the last week. I'm taking in over 3000mg a day and some days over 5000mg. I've been on blood pressure medication for over 10 years, I exercise regualrly, I thought I ate pretty well. Now I get it! :ohwell: I just never knew how much sodium I was eating every day. My poor, poor kidneys...

    Time for a real change in diet.

    Blizz
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