Sodium & feeling bloated

I've been noticing lately, since logging food, that almost EVERYTHING is loaded with sodium. What is the recommended limit of sodium a day, and does excess sodium make you feel all blown up? I'm drinking a lot of liquids (0 calorie soft drinks, tea, water) but it doesn't seem to help.

Any sodium scholar out there?

Yes you are right Sodium is almost everywhere.

The recommended daily allowance is 2400mg.. that of course is for those of us who dont have any high blood pressure problem, etc.

Sodium is in almost all processed foods, so if you stick to  really natural unprocessed foods you should be ok.

I have a major problem with sodium, if i have too much it can make me gain big time in water weight.

Drinking alot of water, will help you flush sodium out of your system.

Good luck to you

~K

Thank you!!!  I appreciate the advice.  I'll watch that number closer now AND try to drink more water.

I agree with that advice too. Try to stay away from any food from a box or can.   I found myself chronically bloated at one time just from eating too many convenience foods. Its no fun, because you feel like you are bigger than you really are! Water is the way to flush it out.

Thank you, too.  I reviewed what I ate today.  2904 grams of sodium.  I ate mostly whole foods though, not much canned or boxed - one frozen breaded chicken patty was as close to "processed" as I got.  That was 480 grams of sodium.  1 ounce of packaged cheddar cheese was 180 grams.  Those 2 things alone knocked me over the 2400 recommended amount.    

I'll watch it more closely.

Thanks again.

I am so bloated lately I am like the Goodyear blimp in the mid section even though I am quite thin and at a low weight. And yes, it's because I have eaten a ton of processed high sodium foods and have not had enough water past few days. Salt is the enemy.

substitute one of your high sodium snacks with kiwi fruit or a melon! (: I read in a book recently that kiwi helps prevent water retention by aiding in the removal of excess sodium from the body. Apparently melons also help to combat bloating and puffiness... hope this helps! (:

Thanks so much for the information.  I just started logging my food today and I was so alarmed at how much sodium I had.  Good Grief.  It was 4209.  I have to really watch that.  I would have never guessed that it would be that high.  It's twice the recommended amount.  Yipes

I'm always on the go, so I have a bad habit of eating too much fast food.  Before I go, I check the websites of various restaurants to find out the best option before I go.  The sodium and calorie content at restaurants is shocking.  Not all places provide sodium content, but a lot of them do.

I recently heard a report on TV that said potassium helps rid the body of sodium. They recommended bananas and white potatoes.