Chloride is a salt which makes up about 0.15 percent of your body's weight, according to the National Institutes of Health. Chloride's primary responsibilities within the body are fluid regulation and its role in digestion via stomach acids. The chloride found in the diet is the most common source of the mineral and can help to keep the blood level of chloride within normal limits.
Significance
Chloride, along with sodium, calcium and potassium, are among the most important electrolytes in the blood, according to The Vitamins and Nutrition Center. Chloride is essential to maintaining proper fluid balance, blood pressure and blood volumes. Maintaining good hydration during periods of gastric distress, such as nausea and vomiting, can help to maintain stable chloride levels. Other causes of abnormal chloride levels are problems with your kidneys or endocrine system.
Types
Chloride in the diet is often found in combination with other minerals. For example, common table salt is made up of sodium and chloride. Most of the chloride consumed in the diet is from table salt, according to the National Institutes of Health. Potassium chloride is often found in salt substitutes and may be prescribed as a supplement by doctors to increase low potassium levels. This supplement should be used with caution as high doses may significantly affect heart function.
Identification
You can also consume chloride in many foods readily available to all consumers. Many fruits and vegetables are sprayed with a calcium chloride product to maintain their freshness by lengthening their shelf life. Other foods high in chloride include tomatoes and tomato juice, celery, olives, rye and lettuce.
Considerations
Most adults should consume between 2.0 and 2.3 g of chloride per day, according to the National Institutes of Health. The amount needed drops as a person ages and increases at other points in life, including pregnancy and lactation. They also note that most people consume more chloride than needed due to the salt content of processed foods.
Warning
The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that too little chloride in the blood, caused by any condition including the use of diuretics or water pills, can be dangerous. This can lead to dehydration which can cause a condition called metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis can cause muscle twitching, headaches and seizures according to the Merck Manual.
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