Sodium
Advantages
Sodium helps muscles and nerves work properly by assisting muscular contraction and transmission of nerve signals. It also helps regulate blood pressure and volume.Proper amount of sodium in the body maintains an appropriate overall balance of bodily fluids. Sodium also helps sustain a regular blood pH level, an important indicator of health.
Disadvantages
Excessive sodium in the diet has many serious, dangerous side effects. When the kidneys — which naturally balance sodium levels — cannot excrete sufficient sodium, it begins to aggregate in the blood. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure as well as fluid build-up in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis or kidney disease. These conditions make it especially hard for the kidneys to balance sodium levels. Extra sodium causes the body to retain water, increasing blood volume and causing the heart to work harder to move blood, placing more pressure on the arteries. Increased blood pressure can ultimately lead to heart disease, heart failure or stroke.
Recommendations
Table salt is 40 percent sodium, and the most common dietary source of it. One teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which is the recommended maximum intake of sodium per healthy adult per day, according to government nutrition experts. Individuals with high blood pressure should limit their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams daily. Keep in mind that many foods, especially processed and prepared foods, contain high levels of sodium. People with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and kidney disease might require significantly lower amounts of sodium.
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