Sodium
What is sodium?
About a third of the 120mg of the
mineral sodium in the body is found in your
bones. The rest is in your
body fluids. It ensures a proper fluid and electrolyte or pH balance in your body, together with chlorine and potassium.
What sodium does for you
Sodium helps your body maintain its
water balance and
pH. It enables your cell walls to draw in nutrients. It plays a role in
muscle contraction. Sodium works in close association with chlorine and potassium.
How much sodium you need
You’re unlikely to need extra sodium in your diet – if anything, most people ingest too much of it in the form of table
salt or salt added to tinned foods, nuts and chips. But vigorous exercise in the heat can cause you to lose it through sweating. Prolonged illness, especially diahrroea and vomiting can do the same.
Which foods have sodium?
Table salt, smoked, pickled or refined foods, crisps, condiments such as tomato sauce, bread, breakfast cereals.
Signs of sodium deficiency.
Dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, heat exhaustion, poor appetite, lack of concentration and dehydration.
