Here's What Happens When You Lower Your Sodium Intake | The Odyssey Online
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Health and Wellness

Here's What Happens When You Lower Your Sodium Intake

What a minor dietary change can do for you.

Sarah Wenk
May 14, 2017
Virginia Commonwealth University
159
Here's What Happens When You Lower Your Sodium Intake

After my grandmother suffered a heart attack recently, our family got a major wake up call. After listening to the doctors for days about the importance of nutrition for your overall heart health, we all decided to make a change for the better. The biggest change we had to make was lowering our sodium intake. Even though we knew salt was in just a lot of different foods we eat, we quickly realized salt is also in the foods you would least expect. Just by simply reading labels and avoiding adding extra salt when seasoning your foods, we all noticed some drastic changes.


Weight Loss

The most noticeable difference for all of us was the sheer amount of weight we all lost within even just 2 weeks. Ranging from 8 pounds to 25 pounds, we all saw a significant difference from just watching our salt intake. Most importantly, the weight stayed off.


Our Love of Food

Even though we had to change the way we buy and season our food, we all look forward to meals more now than ever. We don’t have to limit ourselves and we enjoy what we cook even more after making the switch.


Our Use of Seasonings

Even though you’d think your food couldn’t possibly be as good without adding seasoning salt of some kind during prep or after the meal is served. After discovering Mrs. Dash, a brand of salt-free seasoning, we don’t miss salt in the slightest. Our food is still seasoned well and possibly even better tasting than before!


Physical Reactions to Food

After making these minor dietary changes, we have all noticed how much better we feel after a meal. Instead of feeling tired and miserable, we feel energized and extremely content. Within even a few days, you’ll notice how much better you feel.



If you want to try and make the change yourself, try and keep your daily sodium intake between 1500 and 2300 mg. If you aren’t very active and don’t exercise regularly, sticking to the lower end of that range will be beneficial whereas sticking to the upper end of that range is healthier for those living an active lifestyle. Regardless, making this minor change will make a huge difference!
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