I still don't understand sodium.

[fiction agent]

The average American eats 9 grams of sodium daily.

The US government recommends we lower it to 6 grams of sodium. (I don't think they are factually correct, but let's go with it.)

I intake less than 3 grams daily.

On some nutrition labels, for foods, using the math, it says that about 2 grams is the maximum sodium intake one should have for the day on a 2000 calories diet.

Health articles on the web say you only need .5 grams to live and 1.5 grams for a very active individual.

Can someone set it straight? Am I getting too much or too little?

 

[Lifterforlife]

The average American eats 9 grams of sodium daily.

The US government recommends we lower it to 6 grams of sodium. (I don't think they are factually correct, but let's go with it.)

I intake less than 3 grams daily.

On some nutrition labels, for foods, using the math, it says that about 2 grams is the maximum sodium intake one should have for the day on a 2000 calories diet.

Health articles on the web say you only need .5 grams to live and 1.5 grams for a very active individual.

Can someone set it straight? Am I getting too much or too little?

From everything I have ever read, the body maintains sodium balance pretty tightly. In fact, it is not sodium but potassium balance that has become an issue.

Unless you are pre hypertension, I would not fret over it. Most bodybuilders eat a high quality diet, so it is not an issue.

 

[poysyn]

Yea, if you don't have a history of high blood pressure (hypertension) there truly is no reason to avoid sodium (assuming you aren't 100% concerned with some water retension.)

In my opinion, just don't load your foods with table salt and eat healthy and you will intake a healthy sodium amount.

 

[javaguru]

From everything I have ever read, the body maintains sodium balance pretty tightly. In fact, it is not sodium but potassium balance that has become an issue.

Unless you are pre hypertension, I would not fret over it. Most bodybuilders eat a high quality diet, so it is not an issue.

I agree.

Also, if you eat a primarily non-refined diet, meaning you have a good ratio of potassium to sodium, you should be fine. Problems arise when you eat a highly processed diet wihich has excessive sodium and little potassium.

 

[36drew]

I've read you should have a 4:1 balance of potassium to sodium for ideal electrolyte balance. In my experience my muscle looks a great deal more defined than when my sodium intake is higher.

 

[vin01]

In my experience my muscle looks a great deal more defined than when my sodium intake is higher.

If sodium makes you retain water, wouldn't high sodium make you look smoother? I am not arguing your post btw, but curious.

 

[vin01]

Bump

 

[36drew]

If sodium makes you retain water, wouldn't high sodium make you look smoother? I am not arguing your post btw, but curious.

Maybe that post isn't clear, but I am saying that I look a great deal better when my sodium intake is lower as opposed to when it is higher.

 

[vin01]

ahhhhh now it all makes sense! that is what i thought happened.