They say there are two types of motorcyclists – the ones who have been in an accident and the ones who have yet to be, and there are likewise two categories of adult where sodium consumption is concerned: those who have consumed too much sodium over time (aka those who are on blood pressure medication) and those are consuming too much sodium at the moment (and who will at some point be on blood pressure medication).

Here, in a nutshell, is why you don’t want to own a motorcycle:

Sodium contributes to both a stiffening of your artery walls and plaque build up. 

This is bad. 

Why?

First, because blood flow to major organs is reduced. This means a reduction of oxygen for example to your brain which can result in laboured thinking if you are lucky or full blown dementia if you are not. 

Second, pieces of plaque can break away from plaque laden arteries and travel elsewhere and get stuck and cause a heart attack or stroke (or, as mentioned, laboured thinking or dementia, that is, if the blood flow is merely curtailed). 

(But is sodium the same as salt? 

No, sodium is a compound found in salt.

Ok, so what percentage of salt is sodium?

Now you’re thinking! Look it up, do the math, and keep asking good questions!)

Bottom line, your sodium daily intake should be at max just over 1000 mg per day (numbers vary depending on your source but that is a ballpark figure) unless you already have high blood pressure, which you probably do, in which case your sodium numbers should be half that. 

Start reading labels for sodium content specifically. And then add up the numbers. Don’t forget that bag of chips. 

One more thing: atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is not reversible in most cases. 

It’s time to sell your motorcycle. 

JM. 

Recently consulted sources:

Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2015 Jan; 24(1): 8–13.

Hakim, Antoine. Save your mind. Georgetown, 2017.