Like many athletes, I crave salt, but I’m wondering if/when it becomes a problem. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I like a visible layer of salt on most of my foods. I will often resalt food after working through the initial salt layer. Racing, I always crave salt. I have low blood pressure (always below 90 systolic, and below 50 diastolic), so that’s not an issue, and FWIW, my blood work is normal.
Docs, any issues with this kind of salt use? Anybody else going through salt like crazy?
not a doc, but have some issues regarding not getting enough sodium chronically… so I’ve been going through salt like crazy as you say.
you might have some other underlying issues, but generally if you’re salting to taste, drinking to thirst, and regularly monitoring your BP then I think your body will regulate itself as far as homeostasis goes.
Remember though, salt taste is an adaptation and relative, not an absolute, and what tastes salty now may not later.
I’m sure there are other long term health risks other than BP… perhaps kidney stones? Let’s see what others chime in with.
Not a physician, so feel free to ignore completely.
Unless you have blood pressure problems, no; excess salt is not an issue. Spend some time reading about the history of the ‘recommended’ salt allotment. It was my understanding the last time I looked into this that the daily salt recommendation was based on hocus pocus and dogma. If your body is craving salt (something your body cannot produce), then eat salt. Hell, an infant can self-select a perfect diet for itself - so can we. Speak to a doctor, but do a bit of digging with whatever answer they give you and take it with a grain of salt (had to).
Back when I dabbled in tri, I too ate salt like it was going out of style. After a tough workout, yum.
Dr…i mean…Sheldon umm I mean Nick can you say that again but in english ;0)
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When you back bro ?
Cool St. patties there is a 5k where we need to Break 20. Well me not you. I need you to win it and break 16:00 :0)
Nice fucking thread highjack; take it to PM douchebags.
Sorry a out that totally my fault. So how much salt should I need for my 5k? Okay now I am a douchebag.
I think I read somewhere that excess salt input will become evident by excess salt output in your sweat. So as long as sweat in your eyes isn’t so salty as to blind, then I guess your ok.
How about you crawl back to lavender/women’s room you ignorant prick?
Rubbing salt into the wound?
Like many athletes, I crave salt, but I’m wondering if/when it becomes a problem. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I like a visible layer of salt on most of my foods. I will often resalt food after working through the initial salt layer. Racing, I always crave salt. I have low blood pressure (always below 90 systolic, and below 50 diastolic), so that’s not an issue, and FWIW, my blood work is normal. Docs, any issues with this kind of salt use? Anybody else going through salt like crazy?
Relatively low BP (nothing wrong with that if you have no symptoms) in the face of high sodium intake raises the question of whether the high salt consumption is compensatory. What is your serum sodium level? What happens to your BP if you restrict salt? Have your aldosterone level checked if symptoms of low BP develop.
Okay, what’s that mean in English. I’m a salt freak…
Haha…the idea of restricting sodium gives me DTs. I had my aldosterone checked for something else, and it was normal, but that was a while ago. I don’t have access to my blood work at home, but here’s a copy of my urinalysis. I’m guessing that serum sodium is indicative of something else or more sensitive though? FWIW, I don’t take any meds. I guess what I’m a little worried about is that my doc, a FP, is just chalking this up to a food craving and normal sodium loss due to exercise; this would seem reasonable, except the amount of sodium I use is a little absurd. I guess I’m a little worried something might be wrong, and we may be missing it.
URINALYSIS Value Value
Comment
URINE-COLOR PALE YEL
CLARITY-URINE CLEAR
PH-URINE 5.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY-URINE <1.005
GLUCOSE-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
BLOOD-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
KETONES-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
PROTEIN-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
UROBILINOGEN-URINE NORMAL NORMAL
BILIRUBIN-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
LEUKOCYTE ESTERASE-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
NITRITE-URINE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
URINE MICROSCOPIC Value Value
Comment
WHITE BLOOD CELLS-URINE 0 0 - 5 (/HPF)
BACTERIA-URINE RARE (*)
SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS 8
**CREATININE** Value Value
Comment
CREATININE 0.8 0.5 - 1.0 (mg/dL)
CALCULATED GFR 81 >60 (ML/MIN/1.73m**2)
BLOOD UREA NITROGEN Value Value
Comment
BLOOD UREA NITROGEN 21 () 10 - 20 (mg/dL)
CO2 Value Value
Comment
CO2 27 24 - 32 (MEQ/L)
CHLORIDE Value Value
Comment
CHLORIDE 110 () 95 - 107 (MEQ/L)
POTASSIUM Value Value
Comment
POTASSIUM 4.2 3.5 - 5.0 (MEQ/L)
SODIUM Value Value
Comment
SODIUM 142 135 - 145 (MEQ/L)
GLUCOSE Value Value
Comment
GLUCOSE 100 () 65 - 99 (MG/DL)
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE Value Value
Comment
ELECTROLYTE BAL. 5 () 8 - 18 (MEQ/L)
Is this a piss take?
yup
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I think we will need a stool sample analysis or in other words a
“Stoolalysis” .
What is your age if it is under 30 i would not worry so much.
Your UA looks normal. However, a routine UA doesn’t answer the question of whether your kidneys are working overtime to excrete or conserve the high sodium intake.
OK. Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
I will steel myself for a period of sodium restriction. Should I continue to workout normally during the restriction since this is normally what I would be doing? How many days of restriction do you think?
I do have some remarkable orthostatic hypotension; could see that maybe being relevant.
You are a real class act kid
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Oopsie… orthostatic hypotension is one of the symptoms of hypovolemia (low plasma volume) secondary to low serum sodium. I would get my serum sodium checked and then if indicated a workup on adrenal hormones. Salt restriction for 3 or more days may not be a good thing for you!