Raising Low Sodium Levels

[Juliet_22]

Hi beautiful people!

I have this ongoing issue with low sodium levels. It's been below the reference range by 1-2 points over the last 4 weeks in 2 tests (136 and now 135 with the ref range starting from 137)

Prior to that, I was just within the range, one point above the norm.

Prior to that, it was right below the range again, 1 point below the norm.

I definitely feel the symptoms of low sodium.

I already add salt to my diet, at least 1/2 a teaspoon a day, or even close to a teaspoon. Other than that, I'm on a low salt diet. I don't want to eat too much salt as the Japanese have a high rate of stomach cancer due to a high salt intake. I'm not worried about HPB from salt, my BP has been stable.

I tested my cortisol 2 months ago, it was 419 nmol/L , so unlikely to be the adrenals, but who knows. I'm not in the UK now to do adrenal saliva test easily, but 6 months ago I was high on 2 points of the day and normal at 4pm and bed time. So low adrenals are unlikely to be the cause.

My potassium levels are good, solid 50% of the range, or a bit higher.

Is there a trick to raise your sodium levels and keep them stable?

Eating a lot of greens, adding salt - anything else?

What else could be causing low sodium levels?

What other tests do I need to do providing my current cortisol picture (and that I've already done endless tests over the last 9 months)?

Would be grateful for your replies!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Have you worked through all foods (and drinks and anything else) to see how much sodium you are consuming?

Japanese salt intake seems to be around 9 to 11 grams a day. Yet they still seem to have increased longevity. (Obviously, I'm side-stepping your specific concern.)

[Juliet_22 in reply to helvella]

Thank you, I guess I will have to start tracking. I've been feeling so much better lately though, so I take it what I'm doing is working. I'm eating a lot more greens and also adding salt. It seems that more greens is working even better than more salt!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Juliet_22]

This article might be of some interest:

healthline.com/nutrition/6-...

But always remember, that is just one article!

[Juliet_22 in reply to helvella]

Thank you! I don't consciously restrict salt, I think salt is a good thing. It's that I eat a whole food diet and it doesn't contain salt, so I add it myself. In the past I ate no added salt and had good sodium levels, now I add salt and still low sodium, things change ...