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Sodium

Sodium

Aid Overall Health

You hear a lot about sodium and how it can be bad for you, how you need to cut back or how it can cause heart disease. However, sodium is an essential element in the human body.  Without sodium you would die.

Sodium, which is most commonly found in table salt, is a nutrient that is found in the fluid around the cells in the body. It is beneficial to the nervous system, muscles, fluid levels in the body and more.

Athletes and those who exercise regularly may need to supplement their diet with sodium.

While you will find sodium in most foods, there are some foods and food products that contain higher levels of sodium than others do. Examples of these include:

  • Bacon
  • Canned meat
  • Pickles
  • Beets
  • Bouillon
  • Celery
  • Cheese
  • Spaghetti sauce

 

The recommended intake of sodium each day is about 2,400 mg per day, but there are exceptions to this rule that will be addressed later in this article.   

Not all types of physical activity are suitable for everyone. Users take training advice at their own personal risk.

Summary

Sodium Benefits As mentioned above, sodium is an essential element and without it life could not exist. Not only is this true for humans, but it is also true for all animals and most plants. Sodium creates what you might compare to an electronic charge. This charge accumulates and then... more

Sodium Benefits

As mentioned above, sodium is an essential element and without it life could not exist. Not only is this true for humans, but it is also true for all animals and most plants.

Sodium creates what you might compare to an electronic charge. This charge accumulates and then affects the cell membranes by transmitting nerve impulses throughout the body.

Another area that sodium provides a benefit is that it helps to regulate the amount of fluid present in the body. Your body needs water to function and it is sodium content in the urine that alerts the body to whether or not there is enough fluid.

Not having enough sodium causes the body to retain fluids; too much sodium and the body releases more fluids.

Sodium also is important for the nerve functions in the brain. The right amount of sodium in the brain actually helps the nerves in the body to function correctly to allow the correct amount of fluid in the body cells as well as outside of the cells.

If this function isn’t working correctly, then too much fluid will reside in the body outside of the cells causing malnutrition.

Sodium is also responsible for muscle contraction, at least to some degree. It does this by stimulating the nerves around the muscles as the brain commands.

Sodium also aids in the absorption of calcium and other essential minerals into the bloodstream as well as helping keep the adrenal glands functioning.

Sodium and how to Know When You Need More

You hear a lot about the need to eat less sodium, especially in the U.S. where salt is the number one consumed food item in the world. However, there are those instances where the human body needs more salt.

One such example is if the body doesn’t absorb salt the way that it should. This could cause a sodium deficiency, which can lead to water retention, memory issues, lack of muscle response, muscle weakness and more.

Another time when you might need more than your daily recommendation of sodium is if you are an athlete. When you sweat during a workout, you aren’t just losing fluids, you are losing salt as well.

If you don’t replenish the salt you lost during exercise, your body can become dehydrated quickly. This can lead to fatigue, headache and in severe cases, death.

It is for this reason that sports drinks are so popular, they are high in sodium and are designed specifically for athletes during and after a workout.

There are also other supplement options such as salt tablets and supplement shakes that are designed to give you an increased sodium level for your workouts.

Sodium and How to Cut Back

While sodium can be beneficial, it can be deadly as well. Too much sodium in your diet can lead to high cholesterol, clogged arteries, heart attack and stroke.

The problem is that many processed foods contain high levels of sodium. In addition, most people pick up the salt shaker at least once a day to add some flavor to their food.

Cutting back on sodium is going to require more from you than just putting down the table salt. You also need to read the labels on the foods that you eat to see how much sodium is included in those products.

What’s more, some foods have naturally high sodium content, making it important to research everything that you eat to ensure that you are eating healthy.

While you don’t want to cut all salty food out of your diet, when your body doesn’t eliminate sodium from the body like it should, you are going to have to regulate your intake. This can be done with due diligence and a bit of research!

Use our supplement finder to find low sodium supplements or high sodium sports drinks right now! 

Other

  • Side Effects
  • Other Names
  • Uses
Stroke
Clogged Arteries
Heart Attacks
High Cholesterol
Atomic number 53, Cadexomer Iodine, Diatomic Iodine, I2, Iode, Iodide, Iodized Salt, KI, Lugol’s Solution, Molecular Iodine, Monoatomic Iodine, Potassium Iodide, Povidone Iodine, Saturated Solution Potassium Iodide, Sodium Iodide, Sodium Iodine, Sodium Periodate, SSKI, Yodo
Absorption Of Calcium
Brain Function
Muscle Contraction
Nervous System Health