Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Six
As I understand the relationship between sodium and high blood pressure, it's not the sodium per se that elevates your blood pressure. It's because sodium makes you retain water, and that excess water is what elevates your blood pressure, right? That's why the docs usually prescribe a diuretic. So if you exercise a lot and perspire heavily, like I do when cycling in the summer, then your main concern is hydrating sufficiently. A diuretic would be counter-productive as you would keep excess water at bay through perspiration (and heavy breathing).
Assuming that's all correct, let's switch to cholesterol. If you're taking a statin and your cholesterol numbers are way low, do you still need to avoid cholesterol heavy foods like eggs and so on. IOW, does the cholesterol from such foods still contribute to arterial problems even though your LDL is way below the standard range. Or does the statin prevent that?
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Correct on the sodium and water. Think of water following sodium and vice versa. If you are constipated, you don't have enough water in the colon which means you most likely don't have enough interstitial sodium. (most sodium is outside our cells) Always remember when you are dehydrated, it's much easier to eat sodium than to drink it.
Statins inhibit an enzyme that is essential in cholesterol formation. If you eat a lot of cholesterol, your cholesterol can be high if you are eating too much. The statin will decrease production, but if you eat too much.....