I don't claim to be the expert-of-all experts about this topic, but I do see it now and again where someone gets a little "lightheaded" when they quickly go from sitting to standing in the first few days of starting our program.
And, of course, I do have an opinion about it! Given my knowledge of the human body and how it works, and how the program works on our bodies, I have worked up a little theory and I'm happy to share it here!
*Disclaimer: This is not meant as medical advice and should NOT be interpreted as such. I am not an MD!!!
So here goes:
Here in the USA we are VERY used to eating high amounts of sodium pretty much every day. If you are used to eating fast-food, processed-food (in the form of convenience items like macaroni-and-cheese, crackers, chips, you get the idea) or anything from a restaurant, you are likely EXCEEDING the recommendation for daily sodium intake which is as follows:
"The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for sodium is 1,500 mg/day for people 19-50 years of age, 1,300 mg/day for people 51-70 years of age, and 1,200 mg/day for people >70 years of age. The Upper Level for sodium intake for adults is 2,300 mg/day."
Now THAT is what is RECOMMENDED. However, as Americans, according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) the following is the reality:
"The average daily sodium intake for Americans is 3,400 milligrams per day, an excessive amount that raises blood pressure and poses health risks. In general, Americans should limit daily sodium consumption to 2,300 milligrams, but this is an upper safe limit, not a recommended daily allowance."
SO, let's do the math here. The average American eats WELL OVER MORE THAN TWICE the amount of sodium that it is recommended for us to eat, and more than 1000 mg MORE than what is considered the "upper safe limit" for adults.
Add this to the fact that many of us, before starting the program, do NOT drink enough water per day, so we are always walking around in a bit of a semi-dehydrated state.
That is the state that many people BEGIN our program in, think "WAY too much sodium (in the form of salt usually) and WAY NOT ENOUGH WATER.
Now lets briefly talk about the kidneys, those amazing organs which maintain electrolyte balance (sodium is an electrolyte) in our blood. Up until we start the program, our kidneys are used to handling LOTS AND LOTS of sodium because we eat LOTS AND LOTS of sodium, and it is also used to handling that sodium on a minimum amount of available water.
Enter: Our Plan.
Our plan meets the DRI for sodium intake, and doesn't surpass the maximum safe upper limit, so BAM right away your sodium intake goes from WAY WAY TOO MUCH to JUST RIGHT. In addition to that, for those who don't like water, don't drink water, never think about water begin to.....DRINK the "right" amount of water.
The kidneys can adjust SUPER FAST to these dietary changes, and they do just fine responding to the new healthier eating/drinking. In fact, they will LOVE the changes! However, in the process of adjusting the this new, healthier circumstance we have put our bodies in, especially in the first couple of days of starting the program, it is possible to get a bit of a head rush when you stand up too fast, likely due to the "lots-more-water-lots-less-sodium" it has to work with. It has to adjust to this new equilibrium, and will begin to re-concentrate MORE of the LESS sodium you are eating (instead of LESS of the TOO MUCH sodium you are eating) back into your blood to maintain the right electrolyte balance.
The answer to this is NOT "Oh My Gosh This Program Is Unsafe And Doing Something Weird To My Body!" The answer to this is very simple. To aid in the transition to healthier eating, if you feel lightheaded at all, eat a dill pickle spear, drink a cup of Bouillon (NOT low-sodium), or put a little extra salt on your Lean and Green. Powerade Zero is also a great stand-by for this situation.
Capiche? I hope this helped!
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