Sodium-The Youth Element

Sodium is one of seven essential macrominerals. Sodium has gotten a bad rap in our society because of the sodium chloride used in white table salt. The sodium we are discussing is very beneficial and extremely necessary for our bodies to function well.

Sodium from food and herbal sources help calcium keep your body strong and flexible. It is called the "Youth Element" for this very reason.

Sodium and potassium work closely together. High sodium intake can raise blood pressure while high potassium intake relaxes arterial walls, helps the body excrete the sodium, thereby lowering the blood pressure. The body needs a lot more potassium than sodium.

Benefits

• Keeps calcium and magnesium balanced

• Keeps us youthful

• Conducts nerve impulses

• Contracts and relaxes muscles

• Maintains proper balance of water and minerals

• Aids in production of HCI or hydrochloric acid (stomach acid used to breakdown food)

• Helps maintain a normal metabolism

• Works on a cellular level

Signs of Deficiency (hyponatremia)

• Nervousness

• Low blood sugar

• Joint pain and swelling

• Digestive problems

• Excessive vomiting

• Excessive diarrhea

• Excessive sweating

• Altered mental state/confusion

• Fatigue

• Seizures

• Muscle degeneration

• Abdominal cramps

• Depression

• Dizziness

• Hallucinations

• Headache

• Heart palpitations

• Poor coordination

• Recurrent infections

Signs of Excess (hypernatremia)

• Swelling in extremities

• High blood pressure

• Potassium deficiency

• Liver disorders

• Nausea/vomiting

• Weakness

• Loss of appetite

• Intense thirst

• Confusion

• Kidney damage

Food Sources

Nearly all foods contain a small amount of sodium

• Carrot

• Radish

• Bell pepper

• Tomato

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Cucumber

• Apple

• Avocados

• Mango

• Papaya

• Pineapple

• Bananas

Herbal Sources

Dandelion

Resources

1. Salt and sodium. (2020, October 19). Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/salt-and-sodium/#:~:text=It%20flavors%20food%20and%20is,balance%20of%20water%20and%20minerals.

2. Wagester, J. (2014, September 23). Touch your toes in 30 days. Retrieved March 18, 2021, from https://naturopathiccommunitycenter.org/touch-toes-30-days/#:~:text=Sodium%20is%20considered%20the%20%E2%80%9Cyouth,Sulfur%20the%20%E2%80%9Carthritis%E2%80%9D%20element.&text=Sodium%20obtained%20from%20celery%2C%20dandelion,up%20of%20unusable%20sodium%20chloride.

3. Hovis, B. S., ND, MH, CCII. (n.d.). Nutrition-Vitamins & Minerals. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://trinityschool.instructure.com/courses/499/pages/week-1-lecture-3-vitamins-and-minerals