Is sodium essential or harmful?
Sodium is an essential nutrient that your body needs for many important functions. Health authorities recommend between 1.5 and 2.3 grams of sodium per day. Yet, increasing evidence suggests that these guidelines may be too low.
Is sodium essential for your body?
Sodium is an essential nutrient and is needed by the body in relatively small amounts(provided that substantial sweating does not occur) to maintain a balance of body fluids and keep muscles and nerves running smoothly. However, most Americans eat too much of it—and they may not even know it.
What is sodium essential for?
Sodium plays a key role in muscle contraction, nerve conduction and water balance in the body. These are critical to bodily function and the maintenance of our blood pressure. The primary source of sodium in the diet is salt (sodium chloride), which has been a safe part of our diet for millennia.
Is low salt bad for you?
Though health authorities continue to push for lower sodium intakes, reducing sodium too much — below 3 grams per day — may negatively impact health. Studies show that people who consume less than 3 grams of sodium per day are at a greater risk of heart disease and early death than people with an intake of 4–5 grams.
What are the side effects of too much salt?
Long-Term Effects of Too Much Salt It might raise your chances of things like enlarged heart muscle, headaches, heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke.
What are the negative effects of sodium?
But too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone. Most Americans consume at least 1.5 teaspoons of salt per day, or about 3400 mg of sodium, which contains far more than our bodies need.