salt and fluid intake in summer

[Kathy Williams]

As te seasons chane I kow our nutritional neds change too. I have begun touse more water inmy cooing now that it is geting warmer out andI am spending more time outdoors and doing more walking.
Being a newcomer to this diet approac I am not sure how much salt I should use this tim of year in my cooking. I seem to be craving it a lot lately. Could this be dehydration du to the changein climate or just an extra need or more sodium? I drink 4-6 cups of fluid a dayright now and use very little salt in my cooking I guess I probebly get about one fourt of a teaspon a day wich is roughly 500 miligams. I am not a large person and do not sweat easily so what do you think?

[Roy Collins]

Hi Kathy. It is a good, all-around rule of thumb to use the smallest amount of sea-salt in your cooking per day. The salt should be added to the cook pot and not at the table. In
general the craving for salt comes when you are too yin, or when its accumulated stores (from past eating habits) start to discharge from the the body. Too much salt is injurious to kidneys and bladder. Too much salt is yangizing and makes you retain liquid, as well as be atracted to liquid and sugars.

The amount you are using now is appropriate. Your liquid consumption seems appropriate as well. Maybe use a little more liquid in cooking and tea. Eating a little shreded daikon radish (raw) helps to eliminate both cravings for salt and aids in the discharge of it from the body. Thanks for your question.

In peace, Roy

[Kathy Williams]

Thanks for the info. It is nice to know I am doing something riht about my diet for a change. I love this forum it is so helpful.
I have visited the doctor about my previous female troubles and I guess the diet I have been following is working because test results showed my estrogen levels are high. The doctor said I am low in other ones an this could explain the emotional imbalances and mood swings I have been having lately. Is there anything I can do to help this too? Is this a liver imbalace? I have been old that the liver is ones emotionl center and aids in hormonal balace. What can I do to balance my condittion? I am eating mostly green veggies, and brown rice. For protein I eat a bt of fish two to three times a week (about 3 ounces or less) and other days black beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh. I think in general I eat too much tofu wich may be contributing to the excessive estrogens as well as dried fruits.
What do you think?