How Does Sodium Affect Weight?

Every cell in your body requires the mineral sodium to operate properly. You usually get enough, if not too much, sodium through your diet in the form of sodium chloride, also known as table salt. Sodium affects your weight in several ways, and too little or too much sodium can lead to changes in weight.

Sodium

Your body uses sodium for a number of key functions, such as regulating blood pressure and carrying electrical impulses through your nerves and muscles, according to the National Institute of Health's Medline Plus. Some foods, such as milk, celery and beets contain sodium naturally, but it is also a commonly used preservative and flavor enhancer. Having too much sodium in your diet can lead to long-term health issues such as high blood pressure, or hypertension, and heart disease.

Water Retention

Sodium plays an essential role in your body's ability to maintain a proper fluid balance. Water weighs about 8 lbs. per gallon, and when you carry too much water, you gain weight. If you eat foods with too much sodium, this can lead to edema, a medical condition in which your body retains excess water and causes swelling, often in your extremities. The best way to avoid sodium-induced water-retention is to adopt a low-sodium diet.

Hypernatremia

Hypernatremia is the medical condition in which you have too much sodium in your body relative to the amount of fluid. Hypernatremia is most common in the elderly, people taking diuretics or those with uncontrolled diabetes, according to Washington State University. The condition can affect your weight, as it can cause symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, which can lead to weight loss if the vomiting persists.

Hyponatremia

Getting too little sodium can also pose serious health risks and affect your weight. Hyponatremia is a medical condition in which you have too little sodium in your body. Hyponatremia symptoms include confusion, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. If the condition persists for long enough, the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.