How much sodium per day to lose weight

The typical recommendation from the United States Department of Agriculture is that the average person eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt each day, but the American Heart Association and other authorities say one should avoid salt altogether. The latter can be difficult to achieve, unless you have a condition involving kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Most Americans eat an average of 3,000 milligrams per day. This amount is then multiplied by approximately six pounds and represents how much sodium one consumes in a year. Sodium is just one of many tasty and delicious substances that your body requires to function.

The sodium we consume is either found naturally in foods like milk, cheese, bran and celery or added as seasoning to foods like hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Though the latter sounds unappetizing, it only takes two teaspoons of sodium per day to meet your daily needs.

The remaining three teaspoons come from foods you eat on a daily basis, like bread and coffee.

How much sodium should I have in a day?

Of course, there are many factors that affect the amount of sodium you need to consume, including your age and sex. Women under 50 years of age require less salt than men their ages or older women. The USDA recommends that children between the ages of 5 and 18 consume less than 2,300 milligrams per day as well.

It is suggested that you do not exceed 4,000 milligrams of sodium per day if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems. This is usually not a problem for the average person.

There are some people out there who need to reduce their salt intake, but for the most part, it is easy to avoid foods that contain high amounts of sodium. In fact, you may already be doing this.

To determine how much sodium you should have in a day, it is important that you first consider the foods you typically eat. The USDA says that most Americans are getting more than their recommended servings of bread, cold cuts and processed meats.

Many people are also getting too much sodium from condiments like soy sauce and barbecue sauce, as well as from canned fruits and vegetables. Other common salt sources include pizza, bacon, chips and pretzels.

The average person can lose two to three pounds if they reduce their sodium intake by 1,200 milligrams per day over a period of four weeks. This is why so many people are trying to cut back on salt.

Reducing your salt intake helps you lose weight, but it is not the only benefit. A diet low in sodium can also reduce your blood pressure and help prevent heart disease and stroke. If you do not have high blood pressure or other medical conditions that are affected by sodium, a low-sodium diet is still a good idea.

Of course, there are always alternatives to high-sodium foods like canned vegetables that tend to be loaded with salt. If you do not like eating fresh vegetables, try broiling them or roasting them in the oven.

Keeping your salt intake under control as much as possible is easy if you substitute low-sodium products for high-sodium ones. You can also help your body get rid of any extra sodium that is not required by drinking plenty of water, eating whole grain bread and avoiding food with sauces or gravy.

There may be times where you feel bloated or experience a rapid heartbeat after consuming a large amount of sodium.