Should salt be eliminated

[kyle64]

from the diet to get the best cut? It is like in everything.

 

[sassy69]

I don't add salt to much of anything so from that standpoint, I think I get enough just in my regular diet. The only thing I eat that is "high sodium" would be soy sauce if I get sushi - and even then I use it sparingly & preferably "low sodium" because I don't like the taste of too much salt anyway. I dont' think you need to get hung up about - if you're staying away from processed foods, then you're generally ok. You need some salt in your system to help your body keep balanced electrolytes.

 

[ArnoldsProtege]

Salt consumption should be eliminated in general, besides the naturally occurring sodium in foods.

 

[Marat]

Salt consumption should be eliminated in general

Would you mind elaborating?

 

[ceazur]

Everything is fine in portions I believe. Although most of my sodium is meats and green tea.
Read here- » Why is Sodium Bad for You? on  Journal of Healthy Living

 

[Marat]

In healthy individuals, sodium intake isn't an issue -- one's body (kidneys) can handle it. The article that ceazur posted mentions a list of diseases --- high sodium intake alone will not cause those diseases. Rather, high sodium intake in conjunction with a pre-existing disease state may result in a more severe incident.

For instance, an individual with sub-optimal function kidneys will be unable to maintain sodium homeostasis. That individual takes in 'excess' sodium will invariably become over/dehydrated and, at some point, will be hypertensive. Also, excess intake of other salts (think: potassium) can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and ultimately heart attacks etc.

However, a disease state needs to be present in order for sodium intake issues to become a problem. If one is healthy, there's nothing to worry about. Additionally, a liberal sodium intake will help keep your muscles hydrated --- that's a good thing.

 

[kyle64]

I eat a lof of bananas 3-4 a day sometimes up to 5 and they are loaded with Potasium, does that mean I am at risk of cardiac arrhythmias and ultimately heart attacks?

 

[Marat]

not unless you have dysfunctional kidneys

 

[kyle64]

I don't know about disfunctioning kidneys but I do get up twince a night and urinate long streams, that didn't used to happen till I started working out and drinking 64 oz of water plus coffee and other drinks each day. It gets annoying to have to wake up but I feel a hell of a lot healthier now than I did 5 months ago when I was barely drinking 24 oz of liquids a day. I remember I used to have a tight feeling everytime I urinated but now that is all gone and the flow is great.

 

[Marat]

In your specific case, try keeping the bulk of your fluid intake outside of the evening hours --- you want your sleep to be uninterrupted.

 

[kyle64]

Ahh ok, that makes sense, so it does not matter that I focus all my water intake before 3 pm? I thought I had to spread out through out the 24 hours.. hmm

 

[Marat]

it's not worth sacrificing continuous sleep over.

 

[danzik17]

No, you don't need to eliminate salt for a cut except in the end stages of a competition diet. If anything, the water retention is beneficial by increasing strength a bit which in turn makes you lift more and hopefully retain more muscle.