Sport Sodium: how mush is TOO much?

Sport Fitness
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teknotexan

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**PLEASE EXCUSE MY CARELESS SPELLING ERROR!**

I've read countless accounts from nutritionists, stating NO ONE should exceed 2,400 mg of sodium per day. My issue is I am active, whether I am running, lifting, or in Hot (Bikram) Yoga.

EXAMPLE 1: I ate a meal with 2,300 mg of sodium two hours prior to my 1.5 hr Bikram Yoga class, and I cramped up in the last 20 minutes!!!

EXAMPLE 2: I like to run for hours on end, and last time I ran 1.5 hrs, I cramped up, even after consuming 1,900 mg of sodium two and a half hours prior to my run!!

So, my query is for anyone who is active, not a newbie who read a lot of articles: What have you experienced is an optimum level of salt intake for an active lifestyle?

Thank you for you help!!
 
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Wow, well I just checked out my daily stats... and I was surprised to learn that i took in 4133mg of sodium today. I'm currently in a cutting phase and doing a lot of cardio. This high amount seems to be working for me, so your levels don't seem inadequate. Maybe your cramping issue may be stemming from another nutrient deficiency. The link below is an article I found dealing with cramping in athletes. It lists essential minerals and foods containing them. I also noticed you mentioned nothing about your water intake. Drink. Drink. Drink.

Bodybuilding.com - How Can You Prevent Muscle Cramps? - Topic Of The Week
 
I took in 4,010 mg today!! YIKES!!

2,290 mg came from a single sandwich!!

Here's the details:

2 slices of wheat bread, 2 slices of store brand turkey sandwich meat, 2 slices of KRAFT Fat Free Sharp Cheddar cheese food, 2 slices of KLOSEN pickles, 1 tablespoon of Light Mayo = all this for 2,290 mg!!

Apparently, ANY pre-packed food is loaded with sodium. This includes ALL canned foods, ALL prepared deli cheese, ALL OF ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU CAN BUY!!! The pickles alone have 200 mg, where the turkey slices have 380 mg for EACH SLICE!!

I do drink water, and plenty of it!!!

So, my main goal is to lean down, hence the sodium is a big concern. Yet with my runs and especially hot yoga, I hope I am not over doing it!
 
The reason all tho pre-packed food has so much salt is to make them as tasty as possible (the focus is on taste and convenience rather thn health) and also think it is a natural preservative too, which is cheap for the manufacturer.

It's expensive sometimes to eat fresh meat all the time, so sometimes you just have to go for those pre-packed foods when budget and time constraints come into it.

If budget isn't an issue, then planning ahead and cooking your meat fresh (skinless if it's chicken/turkey etc of course) the night before etc would cut out some of the salt.

I'm not experienced enough to answer how much is too much, and i'm definitely not a nutritionist! But that above should help you cut a bit out.

As far as I know, from what i've read the main issue is the effect that too much salt can have on your heart.
 
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