Adachi
Level 7 Valued Member
I will hope to shed light on this.
Under the influence of a carb-laden diet, several factors changed for the negative for me. I believe it's because in general, my hormonal set point has a higher background noise insulin level in general and a higher secretion of insulin in response to carbohydrate intake. In general, the instruction set which Insulin brings to the cell is to uptake and store nutrients from the bloodstream. This is necessary for life and health. Some of us - myself included - have a problem to solve.
Since it seems to be the case, for some people who have a dysregulated relationship with the effects of Carbohydrate intake and Insulin production/reception, a limitation on dietary carbohydrate intake can be of use. there are benefits that I experience while avoiding carbohydrate intake. Higher ambient energy levels, better focus throughout the day, and better performance while working out.
For those who have a more severe relationship with insulin, oftentimes insulin will be secreted in amounts large enough to simulate an emergency system, doing its best to evacuate the blood of sugars, and other nutrients, into tissues like adipose bone and muscle tissues.
The evacuation leads to a crash as the bloodstream becomes less and less nutrient populated. And, so, in order to avoid such peaks and valleys, one who has such a poor relationship with carbohydrates and insulin in such a cycle of overreaction, may benefit from avoiding carbohydrate intake.
I said all that to say this: if someone is avoiding carbohydrates especially nearing complete avoidance of carbohydrates, then their regulation of salts will tend towards shedding. And a low amount of sodium in the system will result in a general malaise, lower energy levels, lower performance, and lesser focus. Sodium, interestingly does not have a storage form. potassium, calcium, and magnesium have salt configurations, which are stored intracellularly, but Sodium is "stored" in serum, in the blood vessels. Sodium is one of the most important electrolytes, as its lower position on the table of elements dictates that it has the highest ionic energy potential due to the lower level valence shell at play. And, there can even be cases where the body will raid existing muscle cells to take out the potassium into the bloodstream to use as a crude substitute for the sodium that is missing. And with the ion pump sufficiently disturbed, one will often experience very severe muscle cramps.
So under the influence of a low carbohydrate diet, cutting salt as well makes bad things worse biochemically.
I have dietarily included carbohydrates or sparingly over the years, since learning about what a dysregulated relationship with carbohydrates and insulin means for me and the implications of such a diet, and I've become a carnivore since, and at this point in order to avoid slumps of having lesser, or insufficient, amounts of sodium present, I take in about two teaspoons of salt per day in seasoning my meat while cooking.
So, to summarize, if one is cutting carbohydrates, and then further cuts sodium, generally speaking, it's a negative proposition overall. There are differing achievable balance points to be found in the amounts depending upon the person's response to carbohydrates and insulin, but in general as one decreases carbohydrate intake to zero, their body will maximize the shedding of sodium from the bloodstream. And, as sodium goes to zero general well-being will decrease.
Ergo: the relationship between carbs and sodium.
Fewer carbs, more salt to compensate for shedding.
Fewer carbs, less salt will lead toward depletion.
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