My Fitness Pal and Sodium Levels

[Pickled Piper]

Hi,

I would appreciate some advice from any nutrition experts out there.

I have been using MFP to tack my food intake for some time now. It shows that I have a daily limit target/ of 2300 (no idea what units) of sodium per day. I typically achieve 100 to 200.

Is that good? or am I not getting enough sodium in my diet?

Thanks in advance.

pp

[Hoofy]

Don't get salt and sodium mixed up.

It's still possible you're not eating much sodium, of course.

[Tumbler]

I think the unit of measurement is mg on MFP for sodium


Salt = sodium x 2.5


I think the current thinking is intake of salt should be around 1 teaspoon a day or 6g

[Tumbler]

One thing to bear in mind is that not all nutritional values are always added in MFP

[Pickled Piper]

Tumbler said:

One thing to bear in mind is that not all nutritional values are always added in MFP

That's what I was thinking.

I can't be that far away from target levels.

Cheers pp

[irocfan]

I must admit that one or 2 of the results on MFP made me raise my eyebrows - their 'oat so simple' carb allowance is crazy!!

[Hoofy]

The biggest problem with MFP is the food is all added by the users. There will be multiple versions of any one product, some entered incorrectly, some with everything bar calories at zero.

[grumbledoak]

The problem with salt/sodium intake is, actually, no-one has any idea what the 'right' amount is. UK average is between 6g/day to 12g/day. Some countries, e.g. Japan, have much higher intake with lower death rates. On a saline drip unconscious will give you 9g/day. Our dear government, desperate to blame anything other than the 'other white substance' for the nation's ill-health, are pushing for ever lower salt intake. 4g/day at present IIRC.

Only two things I can think of are certain salt facts
1. salt is actually very tightly regulated by the body via the kidneys/thirst/peeing.
2. 0g/day salt intake will kill you.

tl;dr - just don't worry about it. You get some naturally in food. Drink if you are thirsty.

[Hoofy]

Interestingly, when I did some work in a care home, the people in their 90s were pouring on salt like it was sauce. I am not sure I'd make it to my 90s.