Sodium Intake

I am confused how many mg of Sodium should I eat a day? I had about 1300mg is that alot?

Nope! Try to stay under 2300 mg. :) Good job!

The recommendation is around 2300-2500

http://www.dialadietitian.org/media/downloads /resources/handouts/low-na-25.pdf

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitness/0 2/11/salt.water.ap/index.html

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml? identifier=4708

What is the sodium recommendation in the US? The sodium recommendation made by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program NHBPEP is less than 2400 mg per day (~1 tsp of salt). This recommendation is consistent with the UK's 6 g salt target (1 g salt roughly = 400 mg sodium). The Dietary Guidelines suggested an even stricter amount of 2,300 mg daily. For people with heart disease, the American Heart Association recommended not more than 2,000 mg of sodium intake per day.

How do you cut back on Sodium? The good news is - you can cut down on sodium by simply switching from processed foods to fresh foods. In addition, always look for the low-sodium versions of the packaged food.

• choose fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned
• choose low-sodium broth and soup
• limit cured meats or foods packed in brine; choose fresh meats instead
• limit instant foods such as instant rice & noodles as well as frozen dinners
• rinse and drain canned foods such as canned vegetables if possible

Can I be getting too little sodium or is there no such thing?

Well, I do everything right, except fro the sodium.  I end up eating like 4000g a day.  Today, I've eaten like 5000 (but weekends are always bad for me).  i know you retain water and it's bad for your heart.  But I end up not eating enough food if I don't eat food with sodium in it.  I think I'm too cheap to buy fresh foods.

I went to doctor recent, and have BP of 128/80 and had an EKG done, I'm in good shape nonetheless.  But I gotta cut down on sodium.

yes, there is such a thing as getting too little sodium.  It's an important mineral and helps maintain your body's electolyte balance.  Symptoms of sodium depletion are dizziness, weakness and nausea.  For instance, if you are in the hot sun, say the desert, and drink a great deal of water with nothing to eat, you can deplete your sodium.  That's why they used to give salt tablets to laborers, and why Gator Aid was invented.

Not enough sodium and you will DIE.  It's not common, but there were fraternity hazing rituals that made pledges drink an inordinate amount of water.  It made some pledges' sodium level so diluted that their hearts could not beat properly. 

Remember that your neurons actually transmit electrcial impulses between each other.  It's a lot easier to transmit electrons through salt water than distilled water.

Though, that's so incredibly unlikely in Western Society, it's not funny... :)

there is also iodine in most table salt, and you need that.  However, although most people can eat 2200-2500mg daily and be healthy, it is recommended that those who have or are feared might develop heart problems and/or high blood pressure (not sure about anything else like diabetes) stay at or below 2000 mg daily.  My bf has congestive heart disease (at 42) and is on such a sodium restricted diet.  I asked my doctor, and was told it was a good thing to keep mine at 2000 or a little lower as well.  I guess it is back to the whole, "all things in moderation" idea . . . but you may want to consult your doctor if you have any health issues that might be affected by your sodium intake.

That hazing this is scary!!  Most of the sodium deficiencies I've read about were/are in places like India (recall Gandhi's "salt march" . . .) where salt was unavailable to the average person and there were not many--if any--processed/manufactured foods available.  In the US, believe it or not, unless you pay extra to get "smart chicken" or "all natural" (not "always tender") pork or beef, even "plain" and "skinless" meats are injected with sodium to plump them up and make them taste better. 

I hope the above helps!  :D

I've been consuming ~4300mg per day lately. Can you get rid of excess sodium by drinking more water? Or can you rid your body of excess sodium by some other method.

I found this link that shows a minimum daily requirement.  It also talks about potential health risks of consuming too much sodium.

oocuteguy12, drinking more water when you consume a lot of sodium will help flush it out of your system and keep you from feeling bloated.