Which is sodium and what it’s for
Sodium is the main ingredient in common table salt, which is sodium chloride, which is important for maintaining blood pH balance, nerve impulses and muscle contraction.It is found in virtually all foods, but when consumed in excess, it can cause increased pressure and heart disease.
- Therefore.
- The World Health Organization recommends that the amount of sodium to be consumed daily be only 5 grams per day for healthy adults.
- Which is equivalent to one teaspoon.
However, 1 gram of table salt contains 40% sodium, but sodium is not only found in salty foods, it is also present in light and dietary soft drinks, which contain significant amounts of this substance.
While 200 ml of common soda contains an average of 10 mg sodium, the light version ranges from 30 to 40 mg.For example, those who drink 1 liter of light soda consume 300 mg of sodium in a single day, exceeding the ideal.amount for health.
Check the amount of sodium in a 200 ml glass
Other sources of sodium include nuts and shellfish.See more examples and their quantities here.
Sodium is important for maintaining health and has the following main functions:
But in addition to sodium, potassium is also important for the health and balance between sodium and potassium in the blood that is critical to the proper functioning of the body.
Excess sodium causes water retention and, as a result, the person may be swollen, heavy-legged, tired, and cellulite; it also increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, kidney problems and osteoporosis.
The best way to reduce your daily sodium intake is not to consume soft drinks and use less salt to season, a good substitute for common salt is herbal salt, which we teach you how to prepare in the following video:
Other tips that can help are not having a salt shaker on the table, not seasoning salads with salt, not eating fried snacks, crackers or chips, for example.In addition, you should get used to reading the labels of all processed foods, looking for the amount of sodium present.
The amount of sodium in the body can be measured with a simple blood test.Reference values for sodium in the blood range from 135 to 145 mEq/L.
Sodium can be increased in cases of dehydration, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, diabetes, coma, hypothalamic disease, steroid use or birth control pills.It can be reduced in cases of heart failure, cirrhosis, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease, adrenal failure, nephrotic syndrome, overuse of water poisoning, side effects of certain medications such as thiazides and diuretics.