Nutrition and chemistry go hand-in-hand. However, you don't need a doctorate in chemistry to appreciate the benefits of a low sodium diet. While sodium is even found in fresh fruits and vegetables, it's fairly easy to identify those foods in your diet that have excessive sodium and replace them with low-sodium alternatives.
Definition
According to chemists, a salt molecule involves two atoms: a metal atom and another atom that comes from an acid. Table salt, also known as sodium chloride, meets this definition. The sodium in this molecule is a positively charged alkali metal with the chemical name "Na." The name "chloride" come from the negatively charged chlorine atom. This atom isn't found in a free state in nature, but is commonly found in a sodium or hydrogen compound. The binding of chloride to hydrogen forms hydrochloric acid.
Hypertension
Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. Known as "the silent killer," heart disease is linked to heart disease, stroke, erectile dysfunction and blindness. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease reports that hypertension caused end-stage kidney disease in 127,935 new patients in 2007. End-stage disease means that the patient will die without dialysis or transplant.
Sodium
The sodium atom in sodium chloride is linked to hypertension. However, since dietary sodium is always found bound to chlorine, there is no way of limiting sodium without limiting chlorine as well. The amount of sodium in a food can be found on the label. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day.
Low-Sodium Diets
Most low-sodium diets involve replacing prepared, frozen foods with home-cooked alternatives. Eliminating canned soups, canned tomato juice, processed meats and dill pickles is a good start. Checking the online nutritional information for restaurants that you frequent can help you make good decisions ahead of time so that you're prepared to order low-sodium foods when possible.
References
- Science-Dictionary.com: Salt
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States
- Linus Pauling Institute; Sodium; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; February 2004
- American Heart Association: Why Blood Pressure Matters
- American Heart Association: Shaking the Salt Habit
