Method and system for tracking sodium intake

• US 8,328,081 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandra Parkington
• Original Assignee: Sandra Parkington
• Inventors: Parkington, Sandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US10/756,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,256 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 128/921, 128903-905, 128/920, 434/127
• US Class Current: 235/61.R
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/30 Dietetic or nutritional methods, e.g. for losing weight A23L33/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

A calculating tabulating system which enables a person on a sodium restricted diet to better regulate the ingestion of sodium for prevention of medical complications. The system includes conversion of the weight of dietary sodium from a standard system of weights and measures to a simple numerical scale, conversion of the weight of dietary sodium consumed to the simple numerical scale, maintaining a running total of dietary sodium consumed in the simple numerical scale. The system includes various devices to aid in the conversion and tabulation process including various mechanical device and electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method for tracking sodium intake comprising the steps of:

a. determining an amount by weight, of a standard measurement system, of dietary sodium a subject is allowed to consume during an intake period, the amount being specific to a particular subject;

b. converting the amount by weight of dietary sodium so determined into intake points by use of a preset ratio of only the amount by weight of the standard measurement system to intake points, the conversion being performed by a processor and the preset ratio being programmable into the processor, the preset ratio resulting in a total number of the intake points the subject is allowed to consume during an intake period that is one or two digits long;

c. selectively displaying on a display a conversion scale listing the relationship between multiple intake point values and the corresponding amounts by weight of dietary sodium, the multiple relationships being displayed simultaneously and being based on the preset ratio, the display operatively connected to the processor;

d. determining the amount by weight of the standard measurement system of dietary sodium in a portion of food that will be consumed by the subject;

e. selectively entering into the processor the number of intake points associated with the portion of food that will be consumed or the amount by weight of the standard measurement system of dietary sodium in a portion of food that will be consumed, such entry into the processor of the number of intake points or the amount by weight of dietary sodium being user-selectable;

f. converting the amount by weight of the standard measurement system of dietary sodium in the portion of food to be consumed to intake points by use of said preset ratio;

g. maintaining a running sum of intake points which are equivalent to dietary sodium consumed by the subject during the intake period; and

h. displaying as an output the running sum of intake points on the display.

2. The method of claim 1 including the further step of repeating steps a. to h. for successive intake periods.

3. The method of claim 2 including the further step of making each intake period a day.

4. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of:

i. recording the weight of the subject at the beginning of reach intake period; and

j. recording the weight of the subject at least once per day.

5. The method of claim 4 including the further steps of:

k. determining the change in weight between the weight recorded at the beginning of the intake period as compared to the weight taken at the beginning of the previous intake period;

l. determining if the change in weight exceeds a preset threshold amount; and

;

m. taking remedial action if the change of weight exceeds the threshold amount.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of taking remedial action is consulting with a health specialist.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the standard measurement system used is selected from the group of the English system or the Metric system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the standard measurement system is the Metric system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the preset ratio is 100 milligrams of sodium per 1 intake point.