Sodium in human body is needed in order to maintain the necessary water-salt balance in its cells, as well as normalize kidney function and neuromuscular activity. In addition, it ensures the preservation of mineral substances in the blood in a soluble state.
The role of sodium in the human body is extremely important, because without it, the normal state and growth of our body is simply unthinkable, it actively affects the body both in itself and in conjunction with other elements. For example, when it interacts with chlorine, sodium helps to avoid leakage of fluid from blood vessels into adjacent tissues.
Without sodium, it is also impossible to transfer blood sugar to every cell of our body, it is a generator of normal functioning of signals nervous system, and also participates in muscle contraction - all this once again testifies to how significant the role of sodium in the human body is. In addition, the substance reduces the risk of sun or heat stroke, and also has a vasodilator effect.
Excess sodium in the body
Excess sodium in the human body can be the result of prolonged salt intake, because of this, hypnatremia can develop, and cell dehydration occurs. Symptoms of excess sodium are manifested in the form of an increase in body temperature, fluid retention in the body, seizures, decreased kidney function, and increased excitability.
Lack of sodium in the body
However, it should be remembered that a lack of sodium in the body, as well as its excess, can be dangerous to human health. Sodium deficiency can be the result of many different pathologies, due to which it is excreted in an increased amount, and the required amount of the substance should not be compensated for (for example, with diarrhea, extensive burns, severe vomiting, with prolonged use of diuretic drugs, etc.). As a result, the body becomes dehydrated - this is the result of hyponatremia.
Symptoms of sodium deficiency are expressed in the appearance of a specific thirst (if it is possible to quench it only when you drink a slightly salted liquid), the appearance of dryness of the skin, and the loss of its elasticity. The consequences of hyponatremia are also disturbances in the normal functioning of various organs of the human body, namely: the alimentary canal (nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite), the central nervous system (coma, apathy, mental disorders, confusion), the cardiovascular system (tachycardia, arterial hypotension ), kidneys (anuria, oliguria, an increase in azotemia).
Remember that eating food containing less than 5 g of sodium chloride carries the risk of hypotension for a healthy person, while for hypertensive people it is, on the contrary, useful, as it normalizes blood pressure.
What foods contain sodium
Scientists have proven that a person loses sodium in the process of sweating, which means that the body almost constantly needs new inputs of the substance. People who adhere to an active lifestyle, in particular athletes, are at particular risk. It should be remembered here that the human body cannot produce sodium on its own, and this can only mean one thing - it is possible to compensate for the loss of a substance only from the outside, that is, with the intake of food and special food additives. If you are wondering what foods contain sodium, then the very first thing that comes to mind will be simple table salt, there are 40 grams of sodium per 100 grams of ordinary salt. In addition to salt, there are other sources of sodium - soy sauce, sea salt, as well as various variations on the theme of salty foods (these can be various pickles, pickles, broths cooked with meat, canned meat). Many experts say that it is healthier to eat refined sea salt, because, unlike ordinary salt, it does not retain water in our body.
Sodium in the body is found in all its constituents: fluids, tissues and organs. This macroelement is considered to be in demand, as it participates in the metabolic processes of life systems. It is found in the digestive enzymes, blood and lymphatic fluid. What foods contain this substance? Is sodium deficiency dangerous? For a list of foods rich in sodium and symptoms of sodium deficiency, see this article.
Lack of sodium in the body
The role of sodium in the body
The substance is contained in human cartilage and bone tissue (in percentage) - up to 40%; in blood, plasma and lymph - up to 50%; in cells - less than 10%.
Sodium plays an important role in metabolism and and regulates:
- osmotic pressure;
- fluid movement;
- acid-base balance;
- the work of the nervous system;
- muscle work;
- transportation of glucose.
Sodium in the body creates a special environment that is required for the formation of muscle tissue. The macronutrient is involved in the transport of carbon dioxide, improves the assimilation of proteins.
The main supplier of sodium to the body is salt. About 15 grams of table salt contains 4 to 6 grams - the daily sodium requirement for an adult. With excessive sweating, heavy physical exertion, poisoning, the consumption rate increases.
Why is sodium deficiency in the body dangerous?
Lack of macronutrient occurs due to excessive excretion through the excretory system, skin, eating food with insufficient salt content, dehydration. Another factor provoking a decrease in sodium is the presence of gastrointestinal diseases.
A lack of the mineral causes the following symptoms:
- dry skin, decreased elasticity;
- restless legs syndrome, frequent night cramps;
- insatiable thirst;
- wanton vomiting;
- lowering blood pressure;
- a decrease in the frequency of excretion of fluid from the body (rare urination);
- lethargy, fatigue, apathy;
- dizziness, memory impairment, loss of consciousness, depression.
A sudden loss of sodium in the body while drinking large amounts of fluids or intravenous glucose can lead to death.
Sodium is a trace element of the extracellular space. Its role is in the regulation and distribution of fluid in the body, as well as in maintaining water-electrolyte balance.
Salt contains a lot of sodiumThe growth of the organism and its normal state depend on this element. It affects the body both independently and in combination with other microelements. The sodium that enters the body is mostly absorbed in the small intestine, and only a small part of it is immediately in the stomach. 50% of the microelement entering the body is concentrated in intercellular fluids, 40% in cartilage and bone tissue and 10% in cells.
The main functions of sodium in the body
- Participates in the production of gastric juice;
- Activates enzymes of the pancreas and salivary glands;
- Regulates metabolic products;
- Participates in providing membrane transportation;
- Normalizes water balance;
- Supports acid-base balance;
- Participates in maintaining the osmotic concentration of the blood.
The trace element is actively involved in the functioning of metabolic processes between cells and inside them. Sodium in the human body is a generator of functions of the nervous and muscular system. In addition, it prevents sunstroke and has vasodilatory properties.
What foods contain sodium
Seafood contains sodium The human body will not function without sodium, so you need to ensure that the element is always present in the diet in sufficient quantities. For this, it is important to know which foods are rich in the element. Almost all foods contain sodium, but most of it enters the body with table salt (sodium chloride).
Plant-based sources of sodium
- Cereals - rice, buckwheat, pearl barley, millet, oatmeal;
- Vegetables - carrots, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, celery;
- Legumes - beans, peas;
Animal sources of sodium
- By-products - brains, kidneys;
- Seafood - crabs, oysters, mussels, lobsters, shrimps, octopuses, crayfish, squid, seaweed;
- Fish - flounder, sardine, anchovy, smelt, sturgeon, bluefish;
- Dairy products - milk, cottage cheese, processed cheese;
- Egg.
Also sodium-rich ready-to-eat foods are ready-to-eat pickles; sauces and broths; various canned food; pickles and marinades; sausages; nutritional supplements- preservatives, leavening agents, flavorings; crackers, chips and other snacks.
Daily sodium intake
In the body, for its normal development and growth, there must always be a minimum daily rate of an element. Sodium is quickly excreted from the body, so you need to replenish useful substance constantly. Receive daily rate element, you can thanks to sea or table salt. These foods contain the largest amount of it.
For kids
- Children and adolescents - 500-1300 mg.
For women
- At any age, the sodium intake rate is 550 mg;
- During pregnancy - 500 mg.
For men
- At any age, the norm is 550 mg.
Lack of sodium in the body
Lack of sodium in the body is very rare. Often occurs in people on a salt-free or vegetarian diet. Also, profuse sweating and fluid intake, large blood loss and taking diuretics can cause a temporary deficiency of the element in the body.
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Element deficiency symptoms:
- Impaired assimilation of amino acids and monosaccharides;
- Gas formation in the digestive tract;
- Neuralgia;
- Weight loss;
- Muscle cramps;
- Vomit;
- Nausea.
Consequences of sodium deficiency
- Hair loss;
- Skin rashes;
- Circulatory disorders;
- Intestinal colic, diarrhea, weakness;
- Skeletal muscle cramps;
- Disorders of the central nervous system.
If symptoms of sodium deficiency appear, then in order to replenish it, it is enough to include foods with its content in your diet and drink mineral water.
Excess sodium in the body
Excess sodium occurs most often due to salt intake of more than 20-30 grams. per day. Metabolic disorders, insufficient water content in the body, as well as daily foods with a high content of the element, can cause its excess. Symptoms of excess sodium include swelling of the legs and face.
Consequences of excess sodium
- Osteoporosis;
- Thirst;
- Kidney stones;
- Disorders of the renal excretory system;
- Dysfunction of the adrenal glands;
- Increased nervousness, irritability, fatigue;
- Increased excretion of potassium;
- Hypertonic disease;
- Arterial hypertension.
Diseases can occur because the kidneys cannot handle large amounts of sodium. All this leads to intense and intense work of the kidneys and heart.
Preparations containing sodium
Preparations rich in sodium are used for oral administration in the form of tablets, as well as for the preparation of dosage forms for injections, nasal spray and solutions of Induces.
- Metamizole sodium is a drug with analgesic, antacid, anticholinergic action, used for acute respiratory diseases. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects;
- Sodium fluoride - the drug belongs to the clinical and pharmacological group, is intended as the prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease. It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties that improve tissue regeneration. It has a beneficial effect on the hardening and maturation of tooth enamel, stimulates the tissues of the teeth and helps to reduce the acid that causes caries;
- Sodium oxybutyrate - the drug is a sodium salt, produced in powder form. Activates metabolic processes in the tissues of the heart, brain and retina, increasing their resistance to hypoxia. Promotes the body's resistance to oxygen deficiency. It has a central muscle relaxant and sedative effect, when used in a large dose, it causes a state of anesthesia, sleep. Strengthens the effect of narcotic and analgesic drugs.
Almost all preparations with sodium content have a lot of contraindications and possible side effects... Therefore, they should be taken, after consulting a doctor in advance, and it is also recommended to treat them with extreme caution for women during pregnancy.
Sodium (denoted by the symbol Na) is a soft silvery-white metal, in thin layers with a violet tint, plastic (easily cut with a knife), a fresh cut of sodium glistens. Sodium and its compounds color the flame bright yellow. The electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of sodium are quite high, the density is 0.96842 g / cm 3 (at 19.7 ° C), the melting point is 97.86 ° C, and the boiling point is 883.15 ° C. Under pressure, it becomes transparent and red like a ruby.
Sodium is a highly active chemical compound, so it is not found in its pure form (to protect it from atmospheric oxygen, it is stored under a layer of kerosene). In nature, it occurs in the form of various compounds, some of them, for example, NaHCO3 (soda) and NaCl (table salt) have been known to man for thousands of years and are used by him for various purposes.
Sodium is the seventh most abundant element and the fifth most abundant metal (after aluminum, iron, calcium, and magnesium). Its content in the earth's crust is 2.27%. Inexhaustible reserves of sodium chloride are found in ocean waters (about 30 kg / m 3).
Sodium was first obtained by the English chemist Humphrey Davy in 1807 by electrolysis of sodium hydroxide melt. Now the total production of sodium chloride from seawater has reached 6 - 7 million tons per year, which is about a third of the total world production.
Living matter contains on average 0.02% sodium; in animals it is more than in plants.
ROLE OF SODIUM IN THE BODY
Sodium is one of the important macronutrients required by our body. Its biological role in the body can be represented as follows:
1. The primary role of sodium in the human body is to regulate the water and acid-base balance of the fluid in the extracellular environment of the body.
2. The most important role of sodium in the human body is to participate in the process of osmosis - the exchange of fluid between the internal and external environment of the cell.
3. It is necessary for the work of muscles and the transmission of nerve impulses along the nerve fibers.
4. Sodium strengthens the cardiovascular system, regulates blood volume, normalizes blood pressure, affects the work of the myocardium, is a vasodilator macronutrient.
5. Strengthens the action of adrenaline. Together with chlorine ions, it promotes the formation of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, activates the activity of digestive enzymes and stimulates digestion.
6. The most important role of sodium in the body is the timely delivery of the energy source - glucose to the cells.
7. Vital for the smooth functioning of the kidneys.
8. Conveys carbon dioxide.
9. Influences protein metabolism by participating in the hydration process.
10. Protects against heatstroke during the hot summer months.
SODIUM ABSORPTION IN THE BODY
Sodium is partially absorbed immediately after it enters the stomach, but most of it still reaches us through the small intestine. It is completely absorbed in the body, and also penetrates through the pulmonary epithelium and skin. After sodium has entered the body, it begins to participate in metabolic processes, acting as a positively charged ion in the extracellular fluid.
The kidneys are responsible for the quantitative sodium content in the human body. They either release it when it is in excess, or keep it when it is lacking. Therefore, with healthy kidneys, there can be no deficiency or excess of this substance in the body.
Sodium has antagonistic properties to potassium and can displace it from tissues. With a deficiency of sodium and potassium in food, the content of lithium in the body increases. Vitamins D and K contribute to the absorption of sodium, while a deficiency of potassium and chlorine in the body inhibits the intake of sodium.
Sodium is excreted from the body mainly with urine (95%), feces, sweat. Its maximum excretion in the urine is from 9 to 12 noon, while the minimum is at night. Sodium metabolism is mainly regulated by aldosterone.
Daily requirement
There are no official guidelines for sodium intake. However, according to many experts, it is for children from 600 to 1700 milligrams, for adults from 1200 to 2300 milligrams. It is recommended to additionally take sodium:
1. Subject to heavy physical activity(athletes, people engaged in harmful physical work, etc.).
2. On condition of strong perspiration (hot climate).
3. When taking diuretics.
4. For diseases associated with a lack of water in the body (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).
5. With extensive burns.
6. In case of insufficiency of the adrenal cortex (Addison's disease).
For most healthy people, 4 to 6 grams of sodium per day is completely harmless. This amount is contained in 10-15 grams of table salt (1 teaspoon of salt contains 2 grams of sodium). The daily intake of sodium in the European population varies between 3 and 5 grams (which corresponds to approximately 8-11 grams of table salt), which, according to some experts, exceeds daily requirement.
It is easy to increase the amount of sodium in the human body - add salt to food, while reducing it is much more difficult and problematic. It should also be borne in mind that sodium in food is much more useful than sodium in table salt.
Our body is not able to produce sodium on its own, so this trace element must enter the body with food. Natural sodium content in food products relatively small - 15 - 80 mg%, but in these quantities it is found in almost all food products. The main and widely recognized source of sodium is table salt. The importance of table salt for the normal functioning of our body can hardly be overestimated.
| PRODUCTS | sodium in mg per 100 g edible parts product |
| Medium salted herring | 4800 |
| Moscow uncooked sausage | 2200 |
| Ukrainian semi-smoked sausage | 1630 |
| Sheep cheese | 1600 |
| Pickled green olives | 1145 |
| Dutch cheese | 1100 |
| Cooked sausage separate | 1050 |
| Lithuanian cheese | 960 |
| Sauerkraut | 930 |
| Pork sausages | 900 |
| Kostroma cheese | 850 |
| Oat flakes | 660 |
| Sprats in oil | 630 |
| Rye bread | 600 |
| Shrimps | 560 |
| Seaweed | 520 |
| Wheat bread | 520 |
| Mayonnaise "Provencal" | 510 |
| Canned vegetables - tomatoes with skin | 480 |
| Canned vegetables - natural beets | 480 |
| Braised beef (canned) | 440 |
| Sliced loaf | 430 |
| Whole milk powder | 400 |
| Canned vegetables - green peas | 360 |
| Chanterelles | 300 |
| Flounder | 200 |
| Celery root | 125 |
| Crayfish | 120 |
| Raisin | 100 |
| Veal | 100 |
| Eggs | 100 |
| Sturgeon | 100 |
| Champignon | 70 |
| Bananas | 54 |
| Buckwheat | 33 |
| Black currant | 32 |
| Potato | 30 |
| Apricots | 30 |
| Cottage cheese | 30 |
| Millet | 28 |
| Apples | 25 |
| Red Ribes | 20 |
| Dates | 20 |
| Carrot | 20 |
| Strawberry | 18 |
| Onion | 18 |
| Watermelon | 16 |
| Pear | 14 |
| Pumpkin | 14 |
| Oranges | 13 |
| White cabbage | 13 |
| Cherries | 13 |
| Tangerines | 12 |
| Lemon | 11 |
| Cucumbers | 8 |
| Zucchini | 2 |
Many nutritionists believe that sodium is sufficient in all foods without added salt. To know how much and what kind of mineral our body needs in this moment, it is enough to give a little hair or nail trimming for analysis, and the ionogram will show an excess or deficiency of each trace element.
Lack of sodium in the body
Lack of sodium in the body is very rare. Deficiency can occur with insufficient intake of food (salt-free or vegetarian diet), as well as with excessive excretion through the skin and kidneys, with its loss during food poisoning, accompanied by partial dehydration of tissues, during treatment with diuretics and diseases of the digestive tract.
If a person receives less than 0.5 grams of sodium per day with food and water, then this leads to the following symptoms:
- loss of appetite, taste of food,
- weight loss,
- stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting,
- increased gas production,
- decrease blood pressure,
- fatigue, dizziness,
- muscle weakness,
- convulsions,
- memory impairment,
- frequent mood swings,
- frequent infections,
- skin rashes,
- hair loss.
Sodium in the body accumulates in the tissues of the bones and this can temporarily compensate for its deficiency. However, the lack of treatment or its delay can lead to death, as proteins begin to degrade, osmotic pressure decreases, and the amount of nitrogen increases. Even drinking a lot of water in this state threatens death.
The resulting sodium deficiency should never be ignored and tried to cope with it on your own - it would be much safer to go to the doctor as soon as possible and start treatment according to his recommendations.
Excess
Excess sodium in the body can occur with prolonged consumption of food with an excessive amount of salt, as well as with diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, kidney and adrenal problems, treatment with corticosteroids, such as cortisone, during stress. In stressful situations, the adrenal glands produce large quantities of the hormone aldosterone, which contributes to sodium retention in the body.
Excess sodium symptoms:
- fluid retention in the body and, as a result, the occurrence of edema,
- increased excitability of the nervous system,
- motor restlessness, a person may show hyperactivity,
- thirst,
- a decrease in kidney function (an increase in the content of residual nitrogen in the blood),
- increased blood pressure,
- an increase in body temperature,
- muscle cramps,
- increased sweating,
- allergies.
Excess sodium in the body can manifest itself as increased excitability, frequent urination, hyperactivity, and impressionability. This is especially true for children. Other symptoms are increased thirst and sweating. An excess of sodium leads to swelling of the legs and face, as well as the development of hypertension.
With excessive consumption of table salt, there is a retention of fluid in the body, which hinders the work of the heart and kidneys and can cause an increase in blood pressure. In these cases, the amount of table salt in the daily diet is sharply limited ("salt-free diet") for patients with cardiovascular insufficiency, hypertension and a number of kidney diseases.
Our kidneys are only able to process about 20-30 grams of salt per day. More of it is already a health hazard. The toxicity of table salt to humans, based on the minimum lethal dose, is 8.2 g / kg body weight after oral administration.
In hypernatremia, table salt should be completely eliminated from the diet. The removal of excess sodium from the body is well promoted by fermented milk products.
Salt and health
Now there are more and more supporters of a salt-free diet, claiming the complete dangers of "white poison". Millions of dollars have already been spent on research to find evidence of the harmfulness of salt. However, so far, no reliable and substantiated information, either for supporters or opponents of salt consumption, has been identified. One study found that among those volunteers who ate increased amounts of salt, there was an increased incidence of cataracts. It turned out that salt affects the increase in pressure in the body, not excluding eye pressure.
Another study found that restricting salt in a person's diet increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. What's more, this study showed that when salt is completely eliminated, insulin hormone production decreases and renin hormone increases, which can increase the risk of death from sudden stroke or heart attack.
Thus, the scales have not yet tilted either towards the opponents or towards the supporters of salt.
Sodium is the main extracellular macronutrient that actively participates in the metabolic processes of the body.
Depolarization of the cell membrane is not possible without the participation of sodium. However, this is not the only function of this macronutrient in the human body.
The body's need for salt
Sodium, along with potassium and chlorine, is a macronutrient, therefore it must enter the body in a large number. In terms of dry matter, sodium is present in human cells in an amount of 70-110 g.
The distribution between the organs of this macronutrient is as follows:
- The third part is in the bones
- The remaining two-thirds are in body fluids, nerve and muscle cells.
A person's need for sodium per day is from 4 to 6 g, the lower threshold is 1 g. To calculate the amount of an incoming macronutrient, there is a special table of sodium content in food.
It's easy to use:
- Choose the product you need and determine how much sodium it contains
- Divide the daily requirement by the amount of sodium in 100 grams of the product
- The resulting value reflects how much of a given product can be eaten.
| Per 100 grams of product | Sodium content mg |
|---|---|
| Sauerkraut | 800 |
| Hard cheese | 800 |
| Cornflakes | 660 |
| Canned tuna | 500 |
| Green beans | 400 |
| Bread | 350 |
| Mushrooms | 300 |
| Beet | 260 |
| Bulka | 240 |
| Chicory | 160 |
| Celery | 125 |
| Whole milk | 120 |
| Grape | 100 |
| Egg | 100 |
| Veal | 100 |
| Spinach | 85 |
| Lean pork | 80 |
| Beef | 78 |
| Champignon | 70 |
| Fish fillet | 70 |
| Oatmeal | 60 |
| Banana | 54 |
| Potato | 30 |
| Dog-rose fruit | 30 |
| Almond nuts | 30 |
| Cottage cheese | 30 |
| Tomatoes | 20 |
| Dates | 20 |
| Currant | 15 |
| Apple | 8 |
| Cabbage | 4 |
| Pear | 3 |
| Rice | 2 |
| Citrus | 1 |
There are certain situations where the body needs more sodium than 4-6 grams, more than the recommended daily requirement.
These situations include:
- Increased sweating during hot seasons
- Intense physical activity
- The use of diuretics (in this case, the simultaneous administration of potassium is required)
- Profuse vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Large burn surfaces on the body
- Adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease.
The excretion of sodium is carried out by the kidneys in the urine. Therefore, if they almost function with impairment, the development of hypernatremia is possible. In this case, the amount of sodium consumed with food must be reduced.
Role in the body
Sodium in the human body performs very important functions:
- Maintaining water and electrolyte balance (sodium is the main osmotic substance that attracts water to itself)
- Contributes to the neutralization of acids, as it is presented in the body in the form of alkaline bases
- Responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses
- Provides muscle contraction (with the help of this microelement, calcium channels open, which ensure the flow of calcium into the cell, which leads to the contraction of muscle cells)
- Regulates the contractility of the heart
- Increases tissue resistance, making them resistant to various types of damage
- Activates the digestive system
- Promotes the formation of a number of hormones
- Participates in the transfer of many substances into the cell.
The physiological role of sodium in the human body is manifested only when the ratio of this substance to potassium is optimal. The norm is 1: 2, sodium should be half as much as potassium. Otherwise, it leads to an electrolyte imbalance. Also, sodium in foods provides the body with chlorine, which is the third most important macronutrient in the human body.
Reduced sodium salt
Recently, salt with a reduced sodium content, potassium salt, has been popular.
This salt has a number of advantages:
- Potassium improves cardiovascular function
- Reduced sodium in the body fights edema
- Kidney function is normalized due to the fact that potassium has a diuretic effect
- Decrease in blood pressure.
The average person consumes table salt with food 2-3 times higher than the daily requirement. This fact leads to a number of negative consequences for the body. The use of potassium-containing salt helps to avoid troubles.
- Arterial hypertension
- Heart failure
- Obesity
- Renal failure
Sodium-free foods are an excellent way to prevent hypernatremia associated with excessive consumption of table salt.
Most sodium is found in table salt, but doctors recommend limiting its use. It is best to fill the need with food.
What foods contain sodium:
- Seaweed
- Lobster
- Shrimps
- Flounder
- Anchovies
- Fresh vegetables, etc.
Products with a high content of potassium and sodium simultaneously enhance the therapeutic effect of the latter, provide an optimal balance of macronutrients in the human body. Therefore, it is useful to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as seafood, while excluding table salt from the diet as much as possible.
Symptoms of hyponatremia
Sodium is found in both animal and vegetable origin... There is practically no product that lacks this important macronutrient. Hyponatremia (deficiency) is very rare.
Usually predisposed to this:
- Increased sweating
- Adherence to a salt-free diet
- Diarrhea due to nutritional disorders or as a result of poisoning, including after infectious diseases
- Repeated vomiting.
If there is at least one of the above situations, then foods containing sodium are increased in the diet.
A deficiency will lead to the following symptoms:
- Decreased appetite
- Perversion of taste
- Cramping abdominal pain
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Skin rash
- Convulsive muscle contractions
- Decreased memory
- Frequent infectious diseases
- Muscle weakness
- Increased fatigue
- Frequent mood swings.
If these symptoms appear, the sodium level in the blood should be checked. If it is reduced, it is necessary to increase the amount of sodium-containing foods in the diet.
Excess in the body
Table salt contributes to the development of hypernatremia. Eliminating salt from the diet or replacing it with a potassium-containing one helps to avoid this condition. The macronutrient in food (vegetables, fish, meat, and others) is contained in an amount sufficient to cover the daily requirement. Salting food is the cause of the development of hypernatremia.
Sodium chlorine, ingested with food in excess, leads to symptoms such as:
- Puffiness
- Thirst
- Development of allergic reactions
- Violation of the heart.
However, these symptoms may appear not only with an excessive intake of table salt, but also as a result of other reasons:
- Eating pickles
- Using products containing preservatives
- Renal failure
- The use of corticosteroid drugs.
- Frequent stressful situations, accompanied by increased synthesis of corticosteroids in the body.
Salt harm
Why are foods rich in table salt harmful? Excess sodium binds water, hence fluid is retained in the body. This increases, on the one hand, the load on the heart, which must push more blood per minute than normal. Against this background, hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium develops, the need for blood supply to the heart increases. Over time, compensation can fail, which increases the risk of developing myocardial infarction. On the other hand, sodium in foods increases blood pressure by increasing the amount of fluid in the body. Fluid accumulates not only in the intercellular space, but also inside the cells. In addition, excess fluid creates conditions for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that block the lumen of the vessel.
Sodium in food is the most abundant element that helps every cell in the body to function normally. In order to be beneficial to the body, it must be in a 1: 2 ratio with potassium. With an excess of macronutrient in the human body, there is an accumulation of fluid, swelling, obesity, and possible problems with the heart and blood vessels. All these negative factors require excluding table salt from the diet and replacing it with potassium-containing one.