The mineral sodium is essential to your diet because it helps maintain vital biochemical functions. Sodium acts as an electrolyte, an electrically charged ion that transmits nerve impulses, regulates fluid balance and influences muscular contraction. You need a small amount daily to sustain these functions. Most people get too much dietary sodium and this can be dangerous, resulting in acute hypertension or chronic hypertension, or high blood pressure. Severe toxicity may also occur from high sodium levels in the blood and tissues and can lead to convulsions, coma or death.
Sodium Intake and Limits
The daily recommended adequate intake of sodium for adults is 1,500 mg. This is all you need for your body to function properly. However, the average American consumes 3,400 mg of sodium per day, notes MayoClinic.com, which is more than double the recommended intake. The Institute of Medicine established a tolerable upper intake level of sodium at 2,300 mg per day, because prolonged high sodium intake has adverse effects on your health.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a dangerous condition that can result from excess sodium in your diet. One serious danger is that hypertension usually presents no symptoms, so many people do not realize they have the condition. Chronic high blood pressure causes your heart to work harder to pump blood through your arteries and eventually this causes weakening of the heart muscle, which can lead to heart disease, and severe damage to the kidney. Following a healthy, low-sodium diet can help you manage hypertension and reduce your risk of further heart complications and kidney disease, among other problems.
Hypernatremia
High blood levels of sodium with subsequent fluid imbalance can result in hypernatremia. This condition may occur from prolonged dehydration, which raises your blood sodium level, from eating too much salt in your diet or result from taking certain medications that cause fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance. Hypernatremia can be acute and cause dizziness, severe diarrhea or sweating and muscle weakness. Severe hypernatremia can lead to swelling, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and chest pain and can be life-threatening. The immediate treatment is to replace lost fluids and get your sodium levels within normal range. However, cutting your dietary intake of sodium can help prevent ongoing complications.
Safe Sodium Intake
Maintain safe sodium levels by staying hydrated with water throughout the day and consuming only the recommended daily intake of sodium. Foods that naturally contain sodium include vegetables, some fruits and dairy. Processed foods often have added sodium in the form of baking soda, monosodium glutamate, disodium phosphate or sodium nitrite. Read nutrition labels for sodium content per serving and look for foods that are low in sodium. Limit your use of table salt, which is 40 percent sodium. If you take diuretic medications or have health conditions impacted by sodium, consult your physician for daily intake recommendations to sustain adequate fluid balance.
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