Salt....

Carpaydeeum · July 2012

So...I tend to end my day with a couple thousand more salt milligrams than is suggested. What is this salt doing to me?

Four_Leaf_Clover · July 2012

It can raise your blood pressure and also make you retain a lot of water, which can discourage you on the scale.
I have been shocked at how much sodium I have been eating when I started tracking it. Certainly a reminder to try and avoid processed foods, but I won't give up bacon! :laugh:

Hellbent_Heidi · July 2012

Its making you retain more water and hindering any weight loss efforts :grumble:

SuperSexyDork · July 2012

I have to eat more than my daily recommended allowance of salt because my blood pressure is too low... It was either that or the cardiologist was going to give me salt tablets... That alone should tell you that sodium raises your blood pressure... it does this by making you retain water.

Do you know the adverse effects of high blood pressure? This is from WebMD

Over time, the increased pressure can cause a wide range of problems. Small bulges, called aneurysms, may form in blood vessels. The heart can become enlarged, increasing the danger of heart failure. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys can cause them to fail. Because tiny blood vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage, hypertension can lead to vision problems and even blindness.

If you're eating a lot of sodium, it's especially important to balance these levels with potassium as this may help combat issues. An especially high ration of sodium to potassium can cause major heart issues.

Also, if you're eating a lot of sodium, it's possible to flush part of that out of your system by drink a lot of water. To keep yourself hydrated, try using this calculator.
http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

mellabyte · July 2012

There is a standing debate about salt. Some claim that unless you're sodium sensitive, salt is not a problem. (Or if you suffer from low bp, a friend of mine suffers from that and her doctor recommends _more_ salt for her.)

I tend to stand on the side of the fence that points you should be sensible with your salt intake. Salt is not the devil and should not be exorcised (unless doctor recommend, of course) - but used sensibly and in combination with other spices and flavor enhancers. This most often happens when you make your own meals instead of buying processed foods, eating convenience foods or out at restaurants.

It's recommend to stay between 2,000-2,500. I have a history of pre-hypertension and hypertension runs in my family, so I try to keep mine at 1,500 and no more than 2,000 if I must.

Salt can do terrible things with your blood pressure, cause water retention, and can eff with your kidneys. My weight fluctuates upwards of 2-4+lbs if I have too much salt. o_o It turns me into a sponge.

yarwell · July 2012

So...I tend to end my day with a couple thousand more salt milligrams than is suggested. What is this salt doing to me?

Using your kidney functions to get out of your body in urine.

iWaffle · July 2012

If you have blood pressure issues I would avoid it but other than that don't stress about it too much. I love my salt and your body needs the stuff to function properly so don't try to eliminate it all together. Sure it might add a pound or two of water weight but If I was worried about how much water was in my body I would measure my water intake. Excess water will drop off quickly if you cut your salt and carb intake and drinking lots of water each day pretty much solves a lot of that issue already. Water doesn't give you cellulite and no one cares how much water they carry unless they're obsessed with the scale. If you need to lose 10 lbs. salt and water retention isn't your problem. It's excess fat.

nc90 · July 2012

Do you know the adverse effects of high blood pressure? This is from WebMD

Over time, the increased pressure can cause a wide range of problems. Small bulges, called aneurysms, may form in blood vessels. The heart can become enlarged, increasing the danger of heart failure. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys can cause them to fail. Because tiny blood vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage, hypertension can lead to vision problems and even blindness.

If you're eating a lot of sodium, it's especially important to balance these levels with potassium as this may help combat issues. An especially high ration of sodium to potassium can cause major heart issues.

It takes a prolonged time with hypertension (high blood pressure) to have these issues. Pre-hypertension has systolic/diastolic values of 120-139/80-89, and Hypertension would be considered at 140-159/90-99.

Even still, if you measure as being hypertensive at the doctor, they'll tell you to cut your salt intake and check back in a couple weeks before it's diagnosed. As long as your moderate with your excesses, drink plenty of water to balance it, and keep an eye on your blood pressure - you will be fine.

Credentials: B.S. in Biomedical Sciences which involved taking plenty of classes on physiology, pathology, etc.

ZoeyRobinson · July 2012

I never cook with salt and day before yesterday I had some doritos. When I woke up in the morning my eyes were swollen shut and bruised. My body aches today and I am severely dehydrated.

And those are just the short term effects.

Your kidneys have to work overtime to process the salt.

iWaffle · July 2012

I never cook with salt and day before yesterday I had some doritos. When I woke up in the morning my eyes were swollen shut and bruised. My body aches today and I am severely dehydrated.

And those are just the short term effects.

SuperSexyDork · July 2012

Do you know the adverse effects of high blood pressure? This is from WebMD

Over time, the increased pressure can cause a wide range of problems. Small bulges, called aneurysms, may form in blood vessels. The heart can become enlarged, increasing the danger of heart failure. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys can cause them to fail. Because tiny blood vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage, hypertension can lead to vision problems and even blindness.

If you're eating a lot of sodium, it's especially important to balance these levels with potassium as this may help combat issues. An especially high ration of sodium to potassium can cause major heart issues.

It takes a prolonged time with hypertension (high blood pressure) to have these issues. Pre-hypertension has systolic/diastolic values of 120-139/80-89, and Hypertension would be considered at 140-159/90-99.

Even still, if you measure as being hypertensive at the doctor, they'll tell you to cut your salt intake and check back in a couple weeks before it's diagnosed. As long as your moderate with your excesses, drink plenty of water to balance it, and keep an eye on your blood pressure - you will be fine.

Credentials: B.S. in Biomedical Sciences which involved taking plenty of classes on physiology, pathology, etc.

You're right about it taking a prolonged period of time for people to have adverse reactions of this kind. However, most people who develop hypertension do not know it for an extended period of time afterwards.

Eating over 6,000 mg of sodium on a daily basis is a dangerous practice and people would do well to be reminded of the seriousness of the consequences.

Healthydiner65 · July 2012

I have to eat more than my daily recommended allowance of salt because my blood pressure is too low... It was either that or the cardiologist was going to give me salt tablets... That alone should tell you that sodium raises your blood pressure... it does this by making you retain water.

Do you know the adverse effects of high blood pressure? This is from WebMD

Over time, the increased pressure can cause a wide range of problems. Small bulges, called aneurysms, may form in blood vessels. The heart can become enlarged, increasing the danger of heart failure. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys can cause them to fail. Because tiny blood vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage, hypertension can lead to vision problems and even blindness.

If you're eating a lot of sodium, it's especially important to balance these levels with potassium as this may help combat issues. An especially high ration of sodium to potassium can cause major heart issues.

Also, if you're eating a lot of sodium, it's possible to flush part of that out of your system by drink a lot of water. To keep yourself hydrated, try using this calculator.
http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

Thank you for this post! I too have low BP and faint from time to time(hitting head is not fun) and my cardiologist also told me to eat more salt. Even though I am a nurse people still don't believe me. Good luck!

mulcahya · July 2012

Too much salt can be dangerous, particularly without adequate water intake (can cause hypernatraemia). However even with water intake, too much salt over a prolonged period of time can cause hypertension (high blood pressure), which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, kidney damage, and a myriad of other problems.

Look at your country's dietary guidelines - for example, I am Australian, and the NHMRC guidelines recommend less than 2300mg salt per day. For everyone. Not just people with hypertension. You obviously want to prevent high blood pressure rather than treat it once it's too late!

And so, if it's an occasional occurrence, don't worry about it. However if it's a lot (as it seems to be) over your recommendations, almost every day, you really should look at the foods that you're eating - a lot of processed foods have high sodium in them!

Not only can too much salt in the diet cause health problems, but water follows salt! If you eat more salt, you retain more water in the body, which causes the number on the scale to be higher!

It is not sensible to have a very low sodium diet (as it is essential), but it also important not to have a high sodium diet (need to get good habits early and make an overall lifestyle change). You may want to see your doctor to have your blood pressure checked and talk to them to hear their recommendations around your salt intake.

Hope this helps!

(4th Year Medical Student)

nc90 · July 2012

Do you know the adverse effects of high blood pressure? This is from WebMD

Over time, the increased pressure can cause a wide range of problems. Small bulges, called aneurysms, may form in blood vessels. The heart can become enlarged, increasing the danger of heart failure. Damage to blood vessels in the kidneys can cause them to fail. Because tiny blood vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage, hypertension can lead to vision problems and even blindness.

If you're eating a lot of sodium, it's especially important to balance these levels with potassium as this may help combat issues. An especially high ration of sodium to potassium can cause major heart issues.

It takes a prolonged time with hypertension (high blood pressure) to have these issues. Pre-hypertension has systolic/diastolic values of 120-139/80-89, and Hypertension would be considered at 140-159/90-99.

Even still, if you measure as being hypertensive at the doctor, they'll tell you to cut your salt intake and check back in a couple weeks before it's diagnosed. As long as your moderate with your excesses, drink plenty of water to balance it, and keep an eye on your blood pressure - you will be fine.

Credentials: B.S. in Biomedical Sciences which involved taking plenty of classes on physiology, pathology, etc.

You're right about it taking a prolonged period of time for people to have adverse reactions of this kind. However, most people who develop hypertension do not know it for an extended period of time afterwards.

Eating over 6,000 mg of sodium on a daily basis is a dangerous practice and people would do well to be reminded of the seriousness of the consequences.

I'm not arguing this, but notice I also said make sure to do it in moderation and keep an eye on blood pressure and drinking plenty of water..

Salt....

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