People are different and need different things, and medical "experts" have different opinions on these matters.
Posted on 08/31/2023 12:43:36 PM PDT by Red Badger
What Is Salt?
Salt is a seasoning that can flavor food and act as a preservative. It’s about 60% chloride and about 40% sodium. Nearly all unprocessed foods -- think veggies, fruits, nuts, meats, whole grains, and dairy foods -- are low in sodium. The salt that we do eat helps relax and contract muscles, lends a hand with nerve impulses, and balances the minerals and water we take in.
How Much Salt Do You Need?
Our body needs only a small amount of sodium. We should get about 1,500 milligrams of it every day. But the average American takes in about 3,400. Too much salt can lead to a stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. But how do you know if you take in too much salt?
You’re Bloated
Bloating -- when your stomach feels swollen or tight -- is one of the most common short-term effects of having too much salt. It helps your body retain water, so extra fluid builds up. Foods don’t have to taste salty for them to be high in sodium. Sandwiches, pizza, bagels, and canned soup can be sneaky sources for salt.
Your Blood Pressure Is High
There are lots of reasons you might have high blood pressure, but one could be too much sodium. The change in blood pressure happens through your kidneys. Too much salt makes it harder for them to get rid of fluid that you don't need. As a result, your blood pressure goes up.
You’re Puffy
Swelling can be a sign of too much sodium in your body. Body parts like your face, hands, feet, and ankles are most likely to swell. If you’re more puffy than usual, take a look at how much salt you’re eating.
You’re Really Thirsty
If you’ve been really thirsty lately, it could be a sign that you’re eating too much salt. When that happens, you become dehydrated. Your body pulls water from your cells, and you might start to feel very thirsty. Drinking water can help neutralize that salt and can freshen up your cells.
You've Gained Weight
When you retain water, you might gain weight. If you’ve put on pounds quickly over a week or even a few days, it could be because you're having too much salt. If you gain more than 2 pounds in a day or 4 pounds in a week, think back to the foods you ate during the past few days and try to make changes to cut down on the salt.
You Use the Restroom a Lot
More salt could lead to more trips to the bathroom. This could be because salt can make you very thirsty, which might encourage you to drink more water. Later on, you might have to go to the bathroom more than usual.
You Aren’t Sleeping Well
If you eat too much salt before bed, it can lead to disturbances in your sleep. Signs can range from restless sleep, to waking up often at night, to not feeling rested in the morning.
You Feel Weak
When there’s too much salt in your blood, water gushes out of your cells to thin out the salt. The result? You might start to feel weaker than usual.
Your Stomach Bothers You
If too much salt in your diet makes you dehydrated, your stomach will feel it. You might feel nauseated, or you might have diarrhea. If your stomach is upset or you have cramps, take a look at what you’ve been eating during the past few days and figure out how to cut back on the salt. Drinking plenty of water can help rehydrate your cells and get you feeling better.
Long-Term Effects of Too Much Salt
Although there are lots of short-term effects to watch out for, there are also long-term effects of eating too much salt. It might raise your chances of things like enlarged heart muscle, headaches, heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke.
How to Cut Down on Salt
Since 9 out of 10 Americans get too much sodium, chances are, you might take in too much as well.
To help keep your levels in check:
Choose fresh meats instead of packaged ones.
When you buy frozen vegetables, choose ones that are "fresh frozen" and stay away from ones with seasoning or sauces already added.
Read labels and check the sodium content in the foods you buy.
When choosing spices and seasonings, go for ones that do not list sodium on their labels.
If you eat out, you can ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.
Get one of those tiny wooden old school salt shakers with clogged holes.
Our body needs only a small amount of sodium. We should get about 1,500 milligrams of it every day. But the average American takes in about 3,400.
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WebMD is NOT your doctor!
There are a lot of reasons that these numbers can be wrong.
Are you and athlete, or someone who works outside in the heat with heavy activity?
Your body can use a lot more salts
Are you on a low carb diet in ketogenesis?
Your body requires a lot more electrolytes.
There are lots of reasons you might have high blood pressure, but one could be too much sodium.
I've found that for me, sugar raises BP more than salt.
I feel much better, with lower BPs, with blood glucose in and around 100. And, I don't go out of my way to eliminate salt.
I always mix in a little food with my salt, so I should be fine.
Thank you.
These one-size-fits-all prognoses are just stupid. And I think different bodies process salt differently.
Salt doesn’t have hands.
I am so sick of it all.
They tell you one day eggs are bad for you. The next day they are okay. They tell you wine is okay for you, the next day they tell you it will bring on some condition. They tell you coffee is good for you, then they tell you it is bad.
I have completely stopped listening to these people. I just live my life, for what it is worth to me. If I eat only vegetables, I might live to 100, or I might croak tomorrow.
But if I live to 100, what the hell kind of life (eating only vegetables) is that?
People are different and need different things, and medical "experts" have different opinions on these matters.
when you exhale, snails shrivel up.
You start to look like Chris Christie.
I put salt on a slug one time and the damn thing exploded!...............
Salt is a seasoning that can flavor food and act as a preservative
Actually it’s a mineral. Article written by two women.
It’s comical. A 96 year old, 80lbs sedentary woman needs 1500mg.
I am 6’2” 215 lift twice a week, two volleyball leagues, and train for sprinting.
I require 1500 mg per advice…
Salt is an ion. It is 50 percent sodium and 50 percent chlorine. Maybe they are talking mass? In terms of atoms it is one to one.
Salt is necessary for perspiration. You can’t sweat without it. The sweat glands push sodium out and the chlorine follows and water follows also. If you don’t have enough salt in you you can die. Salt gets a bad rap. Most people don’t need to worry about salt intake as long as they exercise.
Millenial girls... is there ANYTHING they are not expert in?
WebMD - Where you go for government disinformation! That a pile of doggy-doo!
“How Much SALT is Good for You? (How Much Salt is Bad for You?)”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpqZrIlctI
“7 Signs You Need More Salt” Yes, that says MORE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b10AhKx7cg
I will agree, though, that most people eat WAAAAAY too much processed food, which is loaded with salt. One of the biggest offenders is carbonated sodas. Chock full of sodium. And some people drink several throughout the day.
Sodas, and other junk food, used to be occasional treats that people would consume a couple times a week at most.
Today, people see a Coke with every meal as standard.
“I require 1500 mg per advice…”
I run and ride horses in Southern Arizona. Without salt supplements, I’d pass out.
PS: Also do bodyweight exercises 5-6 days a week, but my huge salt loss is running 3-4 miles in the desert 4 times a week.
I’ll add that I put out salt blocks for my horses. They LOVE salt!
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