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Have you ever wondered why eating out can cause weight gain of a
pound or more in just a few hours?

Usually it's because the meal
you ate contained a lot of sodium, which causes water retention.

The weight gain is from water, not fat, and you'll lose it quickly
as your body processes the sodium out of your system. However,
while the weight gain doesn't last, it's a good idea to watch the
amount of sodium in your diet.

Foods naturally low in sodium help to keep your heart healthy.
You'll be pleased to know that a healthy diet for your heart is
also a healthy diet for weight loss. And losing weight is an
excellent way to lower your blood pressure and/or keep it within a
healthy range.

How does salt affect my weight?


Salt does not cause your body to gain or lose fat. In fact, salt has no calories. High consumption of salt only results in temporary weight gain as it causes your body to retain water. Conversely, low consumption of salt can result in temporary weight loss as it causes your body to expel water.

It is interesting to note that many crash diets which boast quick weight loss rely on foods with little or no salt content. The weight loss is mostly water, and as soon as you eat foods containing salt again you regain the weight.

Salt is, therefore, of little concern in regards to long-term weight loss. It may, however, affect your blood pressure.

Salt versus Sodium

We add table salt (sodium chloride) during cooking and at the dinner table to enhance the flavor of our food. Manufactures add it, often in great quantities, to return flavor to processed foods and help preserve them. But when we look at nutrition content, we look at sodium.

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, salt and sodium are not the same. Sodium, which is found naturally in most foods, accounts for approximately 40% of table salt. Therefore when salt is added to food, the sodium content increases by approximately 40% of the amount of salt added.

Why Salt Causes Water Retention

Our bodies rely on electrolytes, most significantly sodium and potassium, to carry the electrical impulses that control our bodily functions. In order for our bodies to function properly, it is important that the electrolyte concentrations in our bodies remain constant. It is therefore important that we do not completely eliminate salt from our diet.

High concentrations of electrolytes in our bloodstream trigger our thirst mechanism to ensure that we consume adequate amounts of water to maintain proper concentrations of electrolytes. This is one of the reasons bars provide free salty snacks like pretzels and peanuts. The salt causes us to become thirsty and purchase more drinks.

Our kidneys keep the concentrations of electrolytes in our blood constant by increasing or decreasing the amount of water we retain. As a result of our kidneys retaining more water in our blood, our blood pressure may increase.

The water also moves beyond our bloodstream. Through the process of osmosis, water flows from a lower salinity environment to a higher one in an attempt to make the levels of salinity equal. After we consume large amounts of salt, it is the water moving from our bloodstream into our skin that gives us that "puffy" look and makes it hard to get our rings off. Then, when we consume lesser amounts of salt, the same process works in reverse to remove excess water from our bodies.

Salt and High Blood Pressure

Some people are "salt sensitive" which means that consumption of salt can increase their blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an important risk factor for both heart attack and stroke.

For information on high blood pressure, including methods of lowering it and recommended levels of sodium consumption, please visit the American Stroke Association and American Heart Association websites.

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

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