Sodium

Like phosphorus, sodium is a very important, yet very dangerous, mineral. Also, like phosphorus, sodium is dangerous mainly because modern food technology insists on adding sodium compounds to processed and manufactured foods.

Sodium's primary purpose is to help "pump" fluids and nutrients in and out of the cells and cell membranes. The fluid outside the cells contains most of the body's sodium. In normal concentrations, sodium is absolutely essential to the functioning of the cells, and, of course, the body. A deficiency can lead to headaches, muscular cramps, weakness, and collapse of the blood vessels. Such a deficiency is quite rare, since most people consume many times the required amount (five grams is considered a liberal allowance).

When dietary sodium is too high, the concentration of the mineral in the fluid surrounding the cells also rises. Small changes in sodium concentrations in the extra cellular fluid can markedly raise blood pressure. Some people seem to be more susceptible to this effect than others, but most people appear to be susceptible to some degree. There is evidence that dietary potassium can offer some protection against the blood pressure raising effect of sodium.

To avoid excess sodium in the diet, avoid processed foods. A glance at the labels of processed foods will tell you how really dangerous many of them are. Salt substitutes containing potassium salts will both lower sodium intake and raise potassium intake.

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