Less sodium for weight loss? -

I am a 15 yr old male. I weigh 209 lbs. and i am 5 9quot;. I am recently trying this new thing where i keep track of what i eat and stuff online, and i eat about 2000 calories a day. I dont eat chips or crackers or stuff like that anymore. i try to drink alot of water everyday, and I eat alot of fruit. In eating, my worst area would probably be sodium, and sugars. I have heard that eating less sodium would help lose weight. It also helps reduce my blood pressure which i unusually have hypertension being 15. I was wondering if anybody has any advice in order to eat less sodium as in food choices or supplements or something like that. thanks

Hello - I am also being careful not to intake to much sodium or salt. Salt also helps you retain water. You need to read your food labels!!! It will tell you how much each serving has. Also stay away from processed foods. They are loaded with sodium or fat. Fast foods are horrible for your body you are young now so it is important start off right rather then having to correct bad habits. The water you are already drinking is real important as well. But find out how much sodium you are supposed to be eating because we all need it. If i remember correctly it is around 1500 - 2000mg a day. (I could be totally off so check on that!) If you make your food rather then buying pre packaged food you can determine how much salt you put in it. You can also buy salt substitutions that are not that bad. As for sugars....try and stay away from candy as much as possible. Some fruit juices also have a lot of sugars! Orange juice for example per serving has like 29g of sugar! That is a lot so drink is moderation or make your own. Your teeth will also thank you for not taking in that much sugar as well. You can also find sugars in white starchs like white bread and rice. When those foods brake down in your system they turn to sugar. So try to eat whole wheat, grains, and brown or wild rice!! Im not an expert but doing my own research and trying to educate myself 2000 calories is probably good for your age and sex. Young males need a lot of calories to grow properly. You might want to check with your doctor or a nutritionist to find out exactly how many calories you should be taking in. It will also determine your activity level. If you are really active excerise or sports you may need more. You dont want to deprive yourself. My big advice for you though is read your lables!!! Pay attention to the labels! The first ingredient will tell you more of what is in the products. Just because it says whole wheat on the front of the box does NOT mean it is. If the first ingredient is enriched flour its not whole wheat...make sure it says WHOLE WHEAT or whole grain. On the lables also look at calories, fat (what type of fat is also important...no trans fat!), fiber, and protein!! I hope i help a little...(sorry so long) good luck! :-)

The best way to remove sodium from your diet is to avoid processed foods, and soups. Stick to fresh foods as much as possible. Canned and frozed foods all generally have LOTS of sodium (this helps them to last longer). Check the packages for sodium content. IF you must use canned, opt for the lower sodium or no salt added versions. BTW, lower sodium helps keep you from retaining water which will show as weight on the scale, but isn t truly losing fat. Keep up with the rest of what you re doing, that ll do the trick.

Low sodium is a good choice. It will help you lose weight, because you won t retain water. Congratulations on your effort to be healthier. Good luck, honey!!!