Why is it so important to avoid consuming excessive salt/sodium?

Salt is a necessary nutrient for the body, and once was so highly prized, it was actually used as currency. Salt is an electrolyte that is extremely necessary if you are working out in very hot climates. If you have low blood pressure, systolic or upper number (100 or below) and diastolic or lower number (60 or below), you need salt. If you are living in very hot climates where you are sweating constantly, you need salt. If you have arrhythmia and your electrolytes are off, you need salt as well as all of the other electrolytes.

However, if you are hypertensive, and your bottom number on your diastolic is 90 or over and your systolic is 140 or over, you need to reduce your salt intake unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Salt tends to bloat the body, slowing down weight loss and giving the body a puffy look. In fact, you can hold 10 lbs. or more in excess fluids as a result of eating too much salt. Women experience this during their menstrual cycle when they can gain up to 10 pounds seemingly overnight-then shed it again!

Many foods naturally contain salt, and so you are probably getting enough salt in your daily diet as it is. But your body chemistry, environment, and things like hypertension or hypotension are very important factors in determining how much salt you need, and is yet another reason to consult with your doctor first.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by kris.