Sodium vs. carbs

[KILLER2001]

This may be a stupid question, not sure though. Which will make the body retain more water. Lets say on one day you eat alot of carbs, but very low sodium. Then another day you eat alot of sodium from a protein source but cut out all carbs. If the same amount of fluid was drank on each day which would retain more of the water. And which one would let the water out of your body faster when the element is dropped.

 

[Mr.X]

This may be a stupid question, not sure though. Which will make the body retain more water. Lets say on one day you eat alot of carbs, but very low sodium. Then another day you eat alot of sodium from a protein source but cut out all carbs. If the same amount of fluid was drank on each day which would retain more of the water. And which one would let the water out of your body faster when the element is dropped.

1g of carbs will usually have about 2g water with it, while sodium intake is not as set. I have worked w/ people that can take in 5000mg of sodium a day w/o much water problem while some took in 500 and had problems. Again, it all depends would be the best answer, but marginally I would think having too much sodium is a bigger issue if you diet is mostly carbs to begin with.

Mr.X

 

[Stryc-9]

It's not really a fair comparison - since sodium primarily regulates extracellular body fluids whereas carbohydrate intake concerns intracellular water (at least as far as a bodybuilder is concerned).

Having said that, you'll notice a greater reduction in bodily water weight by reducing dietary carbs than you would be reducing dietary sodium (although you'd have to do it for longer than one day to notice an appreciable change).