Sodium help!

So aside from making you retain water and bloating, how else is sodium bad for you? I have a very strange addiction and need to know how damaging it is for me. I like drinking bullion cubes in a cup of hot water. It is like 1400 mg of sodium per cube but only 5 calories and it makes me feel so full, I guess because it is warm. I know how crazy it sounds, but I am totally in love with it. I guess what I am asking is just how bad it it for me health wise? Thanks for any input. Only constructive criticism please, insults don't help! :)

Well, sodium causes your blood vessels to retain additional fluid, which can make your blood pressure go up.  The way my father (a doctor) explained it to me, sodium is not really a problem if you don't already have a problem, but if you do - it can make a big difference.

However, health professionals generally recommend that you don't go too overboard on sodium.  To give you an idea, the American Heart Association's recommendation for everyone is to stay under 2300mg a day.  If you are having one cup for 1400mg of sodium, that's more than half your daily allotment right there.

Other than that, I don't know any reason you couldn't do it.  Watch your blood pressure to make sure it's not being affected.

Good question, Great answer!  I too have problems with sodium, so this little tid bit of info really helped.

Thanks guys :D

 

*Wishing you all well with your goals*

That was a great answer. Thanks! I guess I will just keep an eye on my blood pressure, it is fine now...but then I am young yet.

I have to keep to a low sodium diet due to a heart defect.  If I retain fluid I go into congestive heart failure.  But if you don't have that problem, or kidney problems, high sodium once in a while is ok.

By the way - Herb Ox makes low sodium bouillion granules.  It comes in a jar.  You could cut the regular bouillion with and have half the sodium.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to look for the lower sodium ones.

I eat a low sodium diet due to my husband has had some kidney function lost and has to watch his sodium and potassium.  I do not have high blood pressure but it is easier to eat what he eats.  I do know that I lost weight on it and must retain water because when I do eat it I bloat.  I feel better when I dont eat a lot of sodium but maybe it is just because we have to stick to mostly whole foods and process foods are basically out.  And when you havent had it for long periods some foods you just cant eat because they are so salty.

This brings joy to my heart, as I love my salt.  I drink loads of water so I'm not terribly worried about water weight and have freakishly low blood pressure, like 90/58.  If I have to get rid of my sugar, at least there's one little pleasure I can partake in.