Sodium

See also : Sodium chloride

Special Precautions of Sodium

• High Blood Pressure : One of the main (and most threatening) signs of excess sodium in the body is high blood pressure, and this could put you at risk for heart disease and stroke, amongst other ailments. When your kidneys can’t get rid of excess sodium, it is put into your blood stream. When this happens, your blood volume increases since sodium magnetizes and retains water. This not only raises your blood pressure, but it forces your heart to work even harder to pump blood through your vessels, placing strain on your arteries and other organs.
• Heart and Kidneys : Your kidneys can have a hard time flushing out sodium when you consume too much of it, and your body retains water to dilute the excess sodium. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, too much salt may damage your kidneys and heart even if you don't develop high blood pressure. But heart disease and high blood pressure may develop as your heart and blood vessels cope with increased blood volume. One long-term study published in 2009 found that higher salt intake was linked to a 23 percent increase in stroke and a 14 percent increase in heart disease, notes the Harvard School of Public Health.
• Stomach Cancer : Other research has examined a possible connection between sodium and cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research concluded that salt and salty foods are a "probable cause of stomach cancer," the Harvard School of Public Health reports.
• Osteoporosis : Excess sodium also may weaken bones, especially as you grow older, because more calcium is flushed out through urine when you are taking in too much sodium.

Deficiency Symptoms

The recommended intake of sodium is 120mg/day. If you do not supply your body with enough sodium, the deficiency symptoms can range from irritating to fatal. One of the most seriously impacted areas of the body is the nervous system, which will begin to shut down. In general, sodium deficiency leads to the following:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Weakness
• Low blood pressure
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Muscular irritability
• Hyponatraemia

Benefits and uses of Sodium are

Sodium is generally present in very small quantities in nearly every natural food. When it is added in form of common salt, it not only increases the flavor, but also completes the necessary requirement of balanced diet. The health benefits of sodium include:

• Water Balance: Sodium is one of the minerals that helps to regulate fluid levels in the human body. Sodium and water balance are closely linked. Sodium gateways and channels are what pump water into the cell and regulate the amount of extracellular fluid in the body.
• SaltSunstroke: It is caused due to the failure of the heat regulating system in the human body. This form of heat exhaustion is caused due to continuous exposure to very high temperatures. This exposure causes the body to lose its capacity to maintain normal temperature. This condition is further aggravated due to the loss of salt and water from the body. Thus, sodium plays a vital role in preventing sun stroke or heat exhaustion by replacing the loss of essential electrolytes. Besides water, drinking fluids containing salt and sugar is favorable against sunstroke. Salt can also be mixed with the juice of raw mangoes to provide even more relief. Sodium levels and fluid balance are very important for endurance athletes as well as those who live extremely active lifestyles.
• Brain Function: The brain is very sensitive to change in sodium levels of the body; deficiency of sodium often manifests as confusion and lethargy. Sodium aids in keeping the mind sharp, and it is an important element for the development of the brain, since sodium works to improve brain function.
• Muscle Cramps: These are caused mostly during the hot summer months due to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Along with properly hydrating the body, it is also important to supplement one’s body with sodium-rich juices and fluids to restore the amount of electrolytes.
• Anti-aging: Sodium is an important hydrating product contained in many anti-aging creams. It defends against the free radicals that accelerate the aging process. Furthermore, it helps to restore youthful and healthy skin.
• Eliminates Excess Carbon Dioxide: Sodium plays an important role in the removal of any excess carbon dioxide that has accumulated in the body.
• Regulates Glucose Absorption: Sodium helps to facilitate the absorption of glucose by cells, resulting in the smooth transportation of nutrients in the body’s cell membranes.
• Maintains Acid/Base Balance: By altering the proportions of acid-base alkali phosphates in the body, sodium controls the reaction of the kidneys and the frequency and content of urination.
• Regulation of Fluids: One of the most notable health benefits of sodium is its ability to balance the osmotic pressure in the human body due to the regulation of fluid in the body’s cells.
• Balance of Ions: Sodium shares an association with chlorides and bicarbonates in maintaining a sound balance between two types of ions, both positively charged ions and negatively charged ones.
• Maintains Heart Health: Sodium can help to maintain normal contractions of the heart. It plays a vital role in maintaining the blood pressure of the human body, but an excessive increase in sodium content can dramatically boost the blood pressure and result in serious health complications.