Salt intake more critical for women than for men

Lanie,

I just read in today’s newspaper about a salt study that pertained to females, which noted:

“What we know about women is that they are more salt-sensitive and they are more prone to eat salt. They have a higher taste for salt compared to men.” This could result in serious health problems.

I was brought up to date on salt when I told somebody, "I don't eat salt because I don't put it on my food" which brought the response in effect of "Oh, yeah?"

As I posted here on this forum on May 19, 2019, the person I was talking to showed me the backs of food cans in my cupboard, which listed the salt content.

It was a complete revelation to me. I thought if the can had a nice cover and it said “food” and I was hungry, what else mattered?

I learned from that person that fresh food (chicken, pork chops, turkey, sausage, hamburger, although turkey meat better for you than hamburger), has very low salt, 50 mg. average says one web site, much less salt than canned food. That frozen (vegetables, etc.) is better for you salt wise than canned. But unprocessed food, fresh meat, vegetables, etc., is the best.

Frozen french fries have 350 mg. of salt, while the small, round fresh potatoes, I boil them, have no salt. Although potatoes are a carb, and we want to get as low as we can on those.

Canned Beef stew, 970 mg of sodium, (40% daily value), if you only eat 1 cup

How much sodium a day? Webmd.com says:

The recommended maximum intake of sodium is 2,300 milligrams a day, but those with health conditions like hypertension or cardiovascular disease should consume no more than 1,500. While your body requires just 500 milligrams of sodium per day, the average American consumes more than 3,400.

It adds: Why You Should Avoid Sodium?:

Your kidneys regulate the amount of sodium in your body to maintain optimal health. The kidneys retain sodium when the level in the body is low, while the kidneys eliminate it through urine when body sodium is high.

Taking in too much sodium can lead to it building up in your blood, which puts a strain on your heart and arteries. High sodium in your blood can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, with the potential for chronic heart and kidney disease later on. High blood pressure can also lead to stroke and heart failure.

Lanie, as a bipolar, I take Lithium, which is a salt, so I need to be especially aware of my salt intake.

Tim Tam