What effect(s) does sodium intake have on getting/staying in shape?

Excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure. It can also lead to bloating/retaining water.

Maybe shilolo or another user in the medical field can offer a few more answers.

Eambos is partly right. In some people too much salt in the diet can exacerbate high blood pressure. I don’t know of any data on salt intake and weight loss.

As far as staying fit and healthy, I always recommend moderation of all things. A little salt, a little alcohol, a little fat, a little cholesterol etc. Fad diets come and go, but healthy eating (vegetables, both cooked and raw, whole grains and some protein) plus exercise go a long way towards longevity.

It should also be said that the average American diet is very high in sodium. Avoiding canned and other prepared foods can go a long way to lowering one’s sodium intake to more normal levels. Sea salt contains less sodium that table salt generally.

But you will also need to take in salts because your body loses them when you exercise. A lot of the sport drinks are just flavored water with salt mixed in under the guise of something fancier. It also depends on your blood pressure. As far as I know, salt is good for me because I have low blood pressure.

excessive intake of sodium increases the amount of water you retain which makes it harder to tone and lose the fat/water you withhold which only adds to the weight. within moderation sodium is good for you however that could be said about a number of minerals. just be careful with them.