Weight gain on low sodium diet

[plgii57]

I have Tinnitus for 11 months now and went through all the usual tests and Doctors, who just want me on anti-depressants, eat low sodium diet and tell me to just deal with it... OK so I am learning to deal with it, but now that I am on a low sodium diet, which is not easy, I have lost 25 lbs. I stay away from all the known trigger foods for tinnitus and eat double of the things I can eat, but it just comes out the other end and I gain no weight. I am 54 years old and have always been healthy, don't drink or smoke and always ate sensibly all my life. I have always had a fast metabolism, so gaining has always been an issue for me and now that I can't eat the foods I did before the tinnitus kicked in, I just yo yo up and down between 145 to 150 lbs. If I am working outside/mowing or other strenuous activity, I sweat and loose 5 pounds and it's getting tougher to gain it back and maintain the weight. None of my pants fit me now and have to wear a belt, my wife says I look gaunt. I feel ok, other then the ringing in my head and just need advise as to how I can gain some real weight back. Doctors have been no help, so most of what I have learned has been through my own research. Can you help?

[Renee Radenberg]

Sorry to hear that you had all those tests and they cannot find out why. High stress does cause issues to the body and it can manifest physically in different ways as per the individual and how they handle the stress. Glad you eat fresh foods and coconut milk which is high in saturated fat and calories. That would help you gain weight.

[plgii57]

I know it's a symptom of an underlining cause, one in which all the doctors I and test have failed to find. No cardiac issues, had tests, no seizure problems, had tests, no brain problems, had MRI, no blood issues, had all blood tests that can be done 3 times, no thyroid problems, had that tested...all in all 3 doctors 3 ent's and a couple of shrinks find NOTHING except hearing loss in the upper frequencies. So they said eat a low sodium diet. No Milk cannot drink milk as it seems to trigger ringing so I drink Coconut milk. No ice cream or dairy as it also triggers noise, already eating fresh foods and not eating out, so must just be stress..huh?

[Renee Radenberg]

Tinnitus is a symptom from an underlying issue. Low sodium diet is not one of the recommended treatments for this; however, if one of the underlying issues is blood vessel or cardiac disease, then low sodium is appropriate for treatment. If you avoid adding additional salt to your food at meals that would help you cut 1/2 to 1/3 of your sodium content a day. Add additional spices such as pepper, garlic (not garlic salt), lemon, and onion to name a few. Sodium content is high in all our convenience and prepackaged foods, cold cuts, smoked meats (smoked ham, bacon, etc), canned foods (soups, stews, vegetables, etc), and cheeses. There are products out there that are made low sodium, so you need to read the food labels. Suggest eating mostly fresh foods and home-cooked meals (lower in sodium then convenience foods and restaurants). Are you able to drink milk? If so suggest milk-shakes (low fat if you have a cardiac issue) at all meals for additional calories for weight gain. A fluctuation of 5lbs a day is normal if you are doing physical work. Sounds like you have something going on if you have lost weight and having digestive problems as you stated. Suggest you get that checked. Hoped this helped you.