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Sodium
Sodium – the salt of life Sodium – regulates water balance in the body, for keeping blood minerals soluble and reduce build up deposits in the blood stream, the salt of life.
Description of Sodium
Sodium is an essential mineral found in extra cellular fluids within blood vessels, arteries, veins and capillaries and intestinal fluids surrounding the cells.
50% of the body’s sodium is found in these fluids while the remaining 50% is found within the bones.
Sodium is an element that the body needs to work properly.
Common table salt contains 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
Function
Sodium functions with potassium in the body:
To maintain the acid/alkaline balance in the body
To regulate water balance in the body
In muscle contraction and expansion and nerve stimulation
For keeping blood minerals soluble so they don’t build up deposits in the blood stream
Acts with chlorine to improve blood lymph health
Purge carbon dioxide from the body
Aids digestion
Necessary for hydro-chloric acid production in the stomach
Controls blood pressure and blood volume in the body
Deficiency Effects
Sodium deficiency can cause
Vomiting
Diarrhoea,
Abdominal cramps,
Worms,
Intestinal gas,
Excessive perspiration,
Affect the conversion of carbohydrates into fat for digestion,
Arthritis,
Rheumatism,
Neuralgia which may be caused by acids that accumulate in the absence of sodium.
A low sodium diet would be beneficial for people suffering from
High blood pressure,
Preventing or relieving the symptoms of toxaemia (bacterial poisoning)
Odema (swelling)
Proteinuria (albumin in the urine) and
Blurred vision.
Toxicity Effects
Fast foods (processed refined foods) are usually high in sodium.
An excess of sodium in the diet can cause potassium loss in the urine.
Abnormal fluid retention accompanied by dizziness and swelling of legs and face can also occur.
An intake of 14-28 grams of salt daily is considered excessive says Dr Michael Lesser.
RDA we require is 4 grams daily.
Medical and therapeutic Uses
Sodium helps keep calcium in a solution that is necessary for nerve strength.
Aids in resistance to heat cramps and heat strokes may be increased by moderate sodium intake.
Sodium helps keep calcium from depositing in the joints
Useful in gum and teeth disorders
Good Food Sources
Seafood,
Seaweeds,
Poultry,
Meats,
Carrots,
Beets,
Plums,
Cheese and
Approximately 75% of all manufactured food.
All processed foods are high in sodium.
