Normally, your body maintains a certain level of nutrients for it to function properly. With sodium, it has a certain amount it keeps, and if the sodium levels are too high the kidneys release the excess.
When you consume a high-carb diet, your body begins to pump out huge quantities of insulin to try to deal with the extra glucose. One thing, among many, that high insulin levels does is it tends to hold on to sodium, making it impossible for the body to 'pee' it out. So, in order to maintain the proper level of sodium, it instead begins to retain water in an attempt to dilute the sodium down. Hence, you suffer edema.
Once you start a low-carb diet, your insulin levels drop. One thing you will notice is that you will start making trips to the bathroom a lot more frequently then you did; your body is releasing excess sodium (btw, you should start drinking more water too, cause it actually helps you lose weight). Make sure you take a Potassium supplement, because as your body releases sodium, potassium tends to go right along with it.
Two and a half years ago, I lost my right foot. In the process, my kidneys got damaged and I have had to wear support stockings since because my legs would swell so bad. One of the benefits of the low-carb diet is my leg(s) aren't swelling up like they used to. Not to mention, you feel so much better, you sleep better, you think better, and I can even see better.
The plan I follow is called Protein Power by Michael and Mary Eades. They explained how the body operates in a way that made sense to me, and have actually been enjoying this way of eating. I started the day after last Easter, and have gone down three and a half belt notches since.
Yhwhsman
So you're saying the amount of sodium one takes in isn't the problem, it's the high carb foods that are? Yes, some days are continuous trips to the bathroom, yesterday was one of them for some reason. I do drink primarily water and lots of it, once in a blue moon I have Diet Rite soda. Frankly, all the trips to the bathroom leads me to believe the lymph system is doing it's job, hopefully it's mostly through my legs. Sounds like it's also an indication that the insulin levels are getting back to "normal," whatever that may be. Can insulin levels get too low?
Being in the first stage of lymphedema, I do wear support hose all day and tube socks at night to keep the lymphs working continuously. (Now I have another question - what's the difference between edema and lymphedema? Got to do a search.) I've been told it can't be cured, only maintained so it doesn't get worse. Maybe... Being pretty stubborn about this one - maybe it won't be cured completely but accepting it the way it is now is NOT an option! I'm fighting for some improvement somehow and hoping the Atkins diet might help. Was the loss of your right foot the cause of your edema? Is it actually lymphedema you deal with? I'm wondering, thinking that the path for your lymph system has been disrupted at that point.
Someone else on this thread mentioned that avacados have potassium so I'm going to start including those in my salads. But potassium supplements may be the way to go - any suggestions of what and how much daily?
And again - thanks! A little ray of hope where this condition is concerned! :o)
I started a modifed Adkins in April and lost about 5 pounds so far, not a lot but I am still slowly dropping, and I cheat on weekends.
I have had trouble breathing at night for many years now. I though it was due to a broke nose combined with being overweight. However when I lost the excess water I was carrying, my breathing at night became no problem at all.
I now wonder how many asthma cases are caused by mainlining flour and sugar.