Sodium & Bloating

s an excerpt from a health email I thought would be useful for you all.� "It is important to regulate your sodium and water consumption, as excess sodium can raise your blood pressure and slow down your metabolism. You know sodium best as table salt, but salt and sodium are hidden in all kinds of products, including packaged foods, fast foods, frozen foods, canned foods, and condiments, to name just a few. When you eat sodium, the excess sodium is deposited just beneath the skin, where it attracts water, which is retained in your cells. This makes you look puffy and feel bloated. Not only that, but when water is retained in your cells, it impedes the fat-burning process and slows your metabolism. You don't have to make yourself crazy over this, because there is sodium in everything. Just be conscious of it, and reduce where you can. Ideally, I recommend ingesting under 1,000 mg a day in order to maximize your body's fat-burning potential and lower your blood pressure. Read labels to check the sodium content of what you're eating. Replace processed foods with fresh. Avoid prepackaged and canned foods. Be wary of salt-laden condiments; use very little soy sauce, mustard, and table salt. Go easy on dairy, and avoid processed meats (hot dogs, jerky, bologna, corned beef), miso, tofu, canned or smoked seafood, anything pickled pickles, capers, sauerkraut), relish, ketchup, and butter. Diuretic veggies will also help because they contain potassium, which can help prevent fluid retention and metabolic slowdown. Spinach, lettuce, all greens (mustard, collard, beet, dandelion), parsley, arugula, watercress, asparagus, and cucumber all have diuretic qualities." I thought would be useful for you all.� "It is important to regulate your sodium and water consumption, as excess sodium can raise your blood pressure and slow down your metabolism. You know sodium best as table salt, but salt and sodium are hidden in all kinds of products, including packaged foods, fast foods, frozen foods, canned foods, and condiments, to name just a few. When you eat sodium, the excess sodium is deposited just beneath the skin, where it attracts water, which is retained in your cells. This makes you look puffy and feel bloated. Not only that, but when water is retained in your cells, it impedes the fat-burning process and slows your metabolism. You don't have to make yourself crazy over this, because there is sodium in everything. Just be conscious of it, and reduce where you can. Ideally, I recommend ingesting under 1,000 mg a day in order to maximize your body's fat-burning potential and lower your blood pressure. Read labels to check the sodium content of what you're eating. Replace processed foods with fresh. Avoid prepackaged and canned foods. Be wary of salt-laden condiments; use very little soy sauce, mustard, and table salt. Go easy on dairy, and avoid processed meats (hot dogs, jerky, bologna, corned beef), miso, tofu, canned or smoked seafood, anything pickled pickles, capers, sauerkraut), relish, ketchup, and butter. Diuretic veggies will also help because they contain potassium, which can help prevent fluid retention and metabolic slowdown. Spinach, lettuce, all greens (mustard, collard, beet, dandelion), parsley, arugula, watercress, asparagus, and cucumber all have diuretic qualities." I thought would be useful for you all.