Sodium has positive benefits for the body as well as plenty of negative ones. Because lots of people like the taste of salt, they may find themselves adding salt to food that is already salty. And because there is already salt in so many foods, adding more can cause you to get too much sodium in your diet. For those who tend to be salt addicts, eating high sodium foods or adding salt to already salty food can cause your sodium intake to sky-rocket. There has to be a balance in the amount of sodium we eat or our bodies will suffer the consequences.
What is Sodium?
We all need a little sodium in our diets. Sodium is salt, and our bodies do require getting a little salt to keep everything in balance. Sodium in small quantities is responsible for helping to keep the fluids balanced in our bodies. It is also needed to help transmit nerve impulses to the brain, as well as it plays a role in contracting and relaxing our muscles. Sodium is a fluid magnet--it collects and holds fluids--so too much salt means too much fluid.
Daily Recommendations For Sodium
Sodium is recommended at different amounts for different people. Depending on your health or your situation, the sodium intake for you will be different. The basic range of what the body needs per day is between 1,500 mg to 2,400 mg of sodium. For people who suffer from high blood pressure, the amounts needed and required will be at the lower end of the range of these numbers. In many cases, for those who suffer from high blood pressure and other related health problems, it may be recommended that they use a salt substitute rather than regular table salt.
Negative Effects of Too Much Sodium
Most everything the body requires in order to operate properly can turn into a negative if the proper amounts are not ingested, whether it be too little or too much. Sodium is one of those products that can have severe consequences, especially if too much is ingested. Too much sodium can cause swelling or bloating of the extremities. This is primarily because the kidneys are responsible for eliminating salt from the body, and if there is too much salt, the kidneys cannot eliminate it fast enough and you will get fluid retention. The fluid retention is also capable of building around the heart. This will cause the heart to not be able to beat and function properly, which can cause high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or even strokes and heart attacks.
Solutions Related to High Sodium-Related Health Problems
If your salt intake is the cause of raised blood pressure, the doctor will immediately suggest you get off salt. He will probably put you on either a low-sodium diet or no-sodium diet. He will know this by drawing your blood to see what your sodium levels are. He may need to put you on a diuretic to pull any extra fluid out of your body and to prevent the fluid from further building around the heart. He may also need to put you on blood pressure medication which will help to lower your pressure. You will also need to be monitored regularly on your medication to make sure it is doing its job, which means regular blood pressure checks.
Preventions for High-Sodium Medical Problems
Educating people on the effects of high sodium diets is the first step in preventing high sodium related illnesses. Doctors are trying to teach their patients when they come in for their physicals about the effects of high sodium. It is always good to get your blood levels checked at yearly exams, maybe more often if there is a need, in order to make sure you are not a potential candidate for problems. High sodium related health problems are not only seen in the elderly, but young people as well, so teaching children how to use salt in small amounts is another good prevention for future healthy living.
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