Long Term Effect Of All This Salt?

[ajw4790]

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone had been told or has found out anything on what are the long term effects of these dietary modifications that we are told to make?

Example: Salt? Most people are told to limit or avoid it? Yet, we are supposed to pile it on.

My doc said to increase protein, specifically meat, so what is the long term side effects of increasing protein consumption? Increased fat consumption etc?

Decreased carbs and sugar of course is good. And decreased dairy is likely good as long as you get enough calcium etc. from other sources.

I don't know if all the extra water would do anything bad?

Does anyone know how much water (fluid) is too much? I drink a ton, probably at least 3 liters a day. Sometimes possibly close to 5 liters.

I am just curious what all this may do to myself in the long run?

Thanks!

[Mrs. Burschman]

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the Internet ...

No, seriously, you'd have to ask a doctor about most of that. But as far as I know, the concern with salt is that it raises blood pressure. Well, if you've got blood pressure like mine (one of the last times it was checked, it was 80/50), there's really no danger in raising that a bit.

As for water, the only danger I've heard of it water poisoning, but that's a really extreme case. Everything I've heard says the more water, the better and that most people don't drink enough.

Amy

[flop]

The general health message about avoiding salt is because lots of salt can cause a high blood pressure. Our doctors actually want our blood pressures to go up so that is why we are specifically told to take lots of salt. It is a ggod idea to periodically check your BP as if it does go high you may need to adjust meds or cut back on salt then.

Water - my cardiologist did advise me to limit myself to 1.5 - 2 litres per day, but I feel really bad when I do this. He thinks that drinking too much may cause problems called diabetes insipidus (nothing to do with sugar). When I saw Prof Mathias he told me that 2 - 2.5 litres a day was ok. 5 litres may be overdoing it but everyone is different - I would go by how you feel and occasionally get your bloods checked for U&Es to ensure that the different salts aren't out of balance.

Flop

[pastordari]

Ditto to most of AMy and Flop's comments.

I will add that I was driinking 3 liters of water when first diagnosed. A couple of months into it the doc checked my blood and found I was drinking too much. I don't remember exactly what was out of whack, but I had had too much water. Thus, they told me to increase my Propel and decrease my water. I didn't have the water poisoning thing, but I had enough to throw things off a bit. I wasn't feeling that well either. I use my bp and how I feel to determine how much liquid to drink.

Good luck.

Dari

[runningshoe]

I worry about the salt a lot. Unlike many people here, I have hypertension and pots. I salt load to increase my blood volume and take bp meds to keep my bp down. It is tricky!

[MightyMouse]

Hi Lina, i have times when my bp can also be quite high-- loading on salt helps me. My doc described POTS as dysregulation of BP (highs AND lows), and that the salt would help level it out.

Nina

[friday]

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone had been told or has found out anything on what are the long term effects of these dietary modifications that we are told to make?

Example: Salt? Most people are told to limit or avoid it? Yet, we are supposed to pile it on.

My doc said to increase protein, specifically meat, so what is the long term side effects of increasing protein consumption? Increased fat consumption etc?

Decreased carbs and sugar of course is good. And decreased dairy is likely good as long as you get enough calcium etc. from other sources.

I don't know if all the extra water would do anything bad?

Does anyone know how much water (fluid) is too much? I drink a ton, probably at least 3 liters a day. Sometimes possibly close to 5 liters.

I am just curious what all this may do to myself in the long run?

Thanks!

I think it's mainly because salt can cause a high BP. You always hear about how bad salt is but people don't realize if you have a salt deficiency it is going to help you. Salt is bad for most people, so people just assume it's bad for everyone.

In most cases of P.O.T.S. we are trying to raise out BP. Of course like some of the people hear have said you have to monitor your BP and your electrolytes while you are adding salt and water.

But if you already have high BP and P.O.T.S. that's a different story. You'd have to go about things differently and i"m not even sure how. You'd have to ask your doctor and some of the people her who have a high BP about that.

[MomtoGiuliana]

Like Nina said, for me too, loading salt evens out my bp and reduces both highs and lows. Too much salt for someone without autonomic dysfunction might simply raise bp.

I believe high salt diets are also related to bone loss...?

My specialist told me to aim for 3 liters of water a day. Probably you should ask your doctor for a guideline.

[Gena]

Just wanted to add, that some research show that too much dietary salt MAY leach calcium from bones...so if you have low bone density, just make sure you are getting plenty of calcium and Vit. D (both essential to bone health).

Increased protein MAY create a more acidic environment in the body (it's best to be more alkaline), so be sure to eat lots of fruits and veggies to that are more alkaline. High protein diets are not good for those with kidney disease either.

I used to eat hardly any meat and now I eat a lot more animal protein and fat in my diet and feel much better.

Gena

[Ernie]

Hi,

I often wonder what's the effect on the kidneys!

[friday]

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone had been told or has found out anything on what are the long term effects of these dietary modifications that we are told to make?

Example: Salt? Most people are told to limit or avoid it? Yet, we are supposed to pile it on.

My doc said to increase protein, specifically meat, so what is the long term side effects of increasing protein consumption? Increased fat consumption etc?

Decreased carbs and sugar of course is good. And decreased dairy is likely good as long as you get enough calcium etc. from other sources.

I don't know if all the extra water would do anything bad?

Does anyone know how much water (fluid) is too much? I drink a ton, probably at least 3 liters a day. Sometimes possibly close to 5 liters.

I am just curious what all this may do to myself in the long run?

Thanks!

I was thinking would it be possible to see a nutritionist? They might have some answers of these questions.

I know certain foods effect certain people in different ways. Like someone mentioned protein and the kidneys. I know my Dad has liver problems and so extra protein could be a problem for him, So, maybe you should check with a Nutritionist so that they can help you eat right for your body.

[ajw4790]

Hi All!

Thanks for your responses! It is kinda funny because my question came after going to the nutritionist and she was wondering how long I would be on this diet and what changes could be made, because she seemed to think there maybe some long term consequences.

I think she was thinking the increased salt, and increased meat (with it comes increased saturated fat intake).

Since, being on the board I have seen where a lot of people appear to not eat much meat, due to that it makes their symptoms worse. I find this interesting because my cardio. said to make sure and get a ton of protein and gave me a really hard time because I didn't want to eat a lot of meat. He refered me out and explained me as uncooperative etc. to his change of diet plan. All, I did was say I would try the protein, but I would need to try and find soy and other proteins because I know I didn't want to eat a ton of meat.

So, all of this has left me scratching my head on the whole eat meat or not issue?

Later on I may need to see if I can find a nutritionist that is a little more familar with all of this because she was only used to trying to put people on a diet or decrease High BP.

Thanks for your help!

[yogini]

I don't think eating meat affects POTS symptoms for most people here - if they don't eat meat it's a personal choice. Usually it's things like carbs or sugar that affect POTS.

I must admit that I've never heard of a doctor suggesting increasing meat, although I have heard that it helps to eat protein. I don't think you even have to increase protein all that much, just make sure your meals are mostly protein and less carbs. I don't think your doc would want you to increase saturated fat. There are many of ways of increasing protein in a healthy way: chicken, fish, tofu, nuts, egg whites are all good examples. You can find some more if you do some web searches.

[Mrs. Burschman]

Bison is full of protien and good fat (omega 3, I think) and very low in saturated fat.

Figured as a South Dakotan, I should mention buffalo! I buy ground buffalo instead of beef.

Amy

[ajw4790]

Mrs. Burschman,

No offense, but eww! Sorry, I am not a big meat person! But, that is actually very interesting though!

RGT9191,

Whoops, maybe I had misunderstood that some people thought that animal proteins increased their symptoms.

As, far as protein goes for myself I am trying harder meat wise, mainly with chicken, and some lunchmeat ham. I am VERY picky! Also, I try to eat protein bars, and other soy things... I am trying to find new and interesting ways to get all the good stuff, without a lot of the bad.

As far as the cardio. you should have seen his expression when I mentioned other proteins like soy, beans, and nuts. He looked at me like I was NUTS! He said you would have to eat a ton of that stuff to amount to meat. So... EAT MEAT! At least thats what I came away with!

Thanks!

[friday]

Hi All!

Thanks for your responses! It is kinda funny because my question came after going to the nutritionist and she was wondering how long I would be on this diet and what changes could be made, because she seemed to think there maybe some long term consequences.

I think she was thinking the increased salt, and increased meat (with it comes increased saturated fat intake).

Since, being on the board I have seen where a lot of people appear to not eat much meat, due to that it makes their symptoms worse. I find this interesting because my cardio. said to make sure and get a ton of protein and gave me a really hard time because I didn't want to eat a lot of meat. He refered me out and explained me as uncooperative etc. to his change of diet plan. All, I did was say I would try the protein, but I would need to try and find soy and other proteins because I know I didn't want to eat a ton of meat.

So, all of this has left me scratching my head on the whole eat meat or not issue?

Later on I may need to see if I can find a nutritionist that is a little more familar with all of this because she was only used to trying to put people on a diet or decrease High BP.

Thanks for your help!

Yeah that's the problems with nutritionists. They used to dealing with certain things. I would think if they a good nutritionist they should be able to help you figure out what's right for you as an individual..but maybe that' hoping for too much.