Too Much Sodium

[Chthonian]

How much sodium is considered to be too much sodium for people trying to add mass? Obviously they eat a good deal more calories than regular people, and typical articles published say healthy adults should eat, at most, 3 grams of sodium a day, no more.

I find that, between a lot of my foods, I wind up over that mark. Milk and tuna accomodate for a good deal of this, too.

 

[kyleman1]

Sodium is not significantly involved in anabolic pathways

 

[imported_dkm1987]

Quote[/b] (kyleman1 @ June 18 2005,1:20)]Sodium is not significantly involved in anabolic pathways

Not anabolic pathway per se but without adequate sodium in the body it's pretty hard to make a contraction. The terminals of motor axons contain thousands of vesicles filled with acetylcholine (ACh), when an action potential reaches the axon terminal, hundreds of these vesicles discharge their ACh onto a specialized area of postsynaptic membrane on the fiber. This area contains a cluster of transmembrane channels that are opened by ACh and let sodium ions (Na+) diffuse in.

The interior of a resting muscle fiber has a resting potential (about -95 mV), the influx of sodium ions reduces this charge, creating an end plate potential. If the end plate potential reaches the threshold voltage (around -50 mV), sodium ions flow in with a rush and an action potential is created in the fiber.

We have to have sodium, most people get enough sodium through normal diet, actually probably too much, supplementation for the most part wouldn't be needed.

There is not a Recommended Daily Allowance of sodium, there is however what is called an Adequate Intake which ranges between 1.2 and 1.5g/day. This can change greatly depending on sweat dynamic and fluid retention.

 

[kyleman1]

lol. You're absolutley right. I was going to put in my reply that of course, sodium is the key player for all electrical impulses, but since he put he was trying to gain mass, i told him that sodium was not involved in biosynthesis. Good point though. I tend to forget the whole body is 1 unit, everything depeneding on everything

 

[BoSox]

which was not his question at all. He wanted to know how much sodium intake would be acceptable, health-wise. Not how much he needs to build muscle.

 

[Chthonian]

Thank you for understanding my question, BoSox.

Does anyone have an answer for this? How much is acceptable, healthwise?

 

[zoomz]

from what i have read 2400mg is a recommended max day and 1200mg being ideal, rock bottom minimum 500mg.
Average america averages well over 4000/day. I am averaging approx. 900-1000/day.

 

[imported_dkm1987]

Quote[/b] (Chthonian @ June 19 2005,3:44)]How much is acceptable, healthwise?

There are reports of some people living healthy lives on as high as 10g/day and some as low as .25g/day. It varies.

But as I said earlier and as Zoomz has said, unless you are dehydrated or sweat a ton, anywhere in between 1.2 and 1.5 grams is the current Adequate Intake.

 

[Totentanz]

What will really happen to you if you get way too much sodium? I hardly monitor my sodium intake, but I do eat pretty clean most of the time. Is there anything to be worried about?

 

[imported_dkm1987]

Doubt it will happen, but it could. Too much results in dry mucous membranes, thirst, agitation, restlessness, acting irrationally, and coma or convulsions if levels rise extremely high. Most cases of elevated sodium concentration are a cause of dehydration reducing the ratio of water to sodium. Rarely is it a case of ingesting too much.

 

[imported_hangi24-7]

How are you guys getting so little? I eat 3000+ calories a day and sometimes go over 3000mg of sodium a day!

I don't add sauces or salts to my food but the fish, chicken, and dairy products really rack it up. What is your secret guys?

 

[Aaron_F]

Quote[/b] (hangi24-7 @ June 20 2005,6:52)]I don't add sauces or salts to my food but the fish, chicken, and dairy products really rack it up. What is your secret guys?

Im guessing your eating a cheese variant?

 

[imported_hangi24-7]

Quote[/b] (Aaron_F @ June 20 2005,2:14)]

Quote[/b] (hangi24-7 @ June 20 2005,6:52)]I don't add sauces or salts to my food but the fish, chicken, and dairy products really rack it up. What is your secret guys?

Im guessing your eating a cheese variant?

No I eat very little cheese. By dairy products I meant milk, cottage cheese, and eggs.

Actually, most of my sodium seems to come from chicken and tuna. Eating so many calories just seem to jack up my sodium intake. I think the culprit is canned tuna (I eat a lot of this stuff) because it's a very cheap source of protein.

 

[Aaron_F]

Quote[/b] (hangi24-7 @ June 20 2005,9:11)]

Quote[/b] (Aaron_F @ June 20 2005,2:14)]
Im guessing your eating a cheese variant?

No I eat very little cheese. By dairy products I meant milk, cottage cheese, and eggs.
Actually, most of my sodium seems to come from chicken and tuna. Eating so many calories just seem to jack up my sodium intake. I think the culprit is canned tuna (I eat a lot of this stuff) because it's a very cheap source of protein.

Hmm, little cheese, but you eat cottage cheese...

Cottage cheese is very high salt (added during hte processing).

Milk naturally is relatively low in sodium