Sodium is critical to stay alive, and it is one of the basic elements from which your body is made.
Every cell in your body depends on sodium, which circulates in your body fluid from cell to cell – every cell. All of them. All 30 to 40 trillion cells.
Did you know that salt and sodium are not the same thing?
Sodium is a brain nutrient, so healthy forms of sodium are critical for your brain health. Without sodium, you can’t stay alive.
Around 0.4 per cent of your body’s weight is a concentration equivalent to that in seawater.
The Difference Between Salt And Sodium
Salt and sodium are not the same thing. You need to have sodium in your diet to stay alive, but not necessarily table salt.
Sodium is a mineral on the Periodic Table, and one of the chemical elements found in salt. Sodium is what is found naturally in food – table salt is the chemical combination of sodium + chloride – about 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
Salt is abundant in nature, like Himalayan sea salt, but don’t forget that salt is made of sodium.
So, when you use the word salt, you mean sodium + chloride. When you say sodium, you are talking about the sodium in a cucumber or green bean.
The human body contains many salts, and sodium chloride (common table salt) is the major one, no doubt, making up around 0.4 per cent of your body’s weight at a concentration equivalent to that in seawater.
Why is this difference important?
It’s important because you need sodium to stay alive, and you need to maintain that 0.4 percent body weight at a concentration equivalent to that in seawater.
Sodium has an important role to play in your body, such as supporting brain health, keeping your eyes hydrated, and protecting your skin and muscle health. Immune cells control your tissue sodium storage.
The sources for the best sodium in your diet is from natural foods, preferable raw foods. If you use salt that has been produced in a food production plant, then buy the “right kind of salt” that I mention below.
Avoid The Wrong Kind Of Salt
I always say to avoid buying products that have been touched by many human hands – buy products with as little human interaction as possible. Due to the manufacturing of foods, pre-packaged foods, and fast foods, there is little doubt that excess consumption of the “wrong kind of salt” is a common problem in the Western societies today.
It is important to carefully limit your daily intake of adulterated salt, so monitor the type of salt you use when eating out or eating pre-packaged foods.
I recommend using Himalayan salt, Celtic salt, or any natural sodium sources when salt is used.
Did You Know About Sodium?
- Our bodies naturally contain sodium and salt compounds as an essential chemical for ample functioning.
- Sea salt detoxes the body by cleansing the digestive track.
- Salt reduces gas and bloating.
- A warm sea salt soak can bring out toxins through your skin.
- Historically, salt was used as currency. During the War of 1812, soldiers received salt brine as payment, and Roman soldiers were paid in salt.
- Salt has been used throughout the ages as a ward against negative energies and evil spirits. Today people still throw a pinch of salt over their shoulder to ward off evil that may be behind their back.
- There are several Biblical references to salt.
- The word salary comes from the Latin world salarium, which means “payment in salt.”
- Primitive humans had no concerns about salt because they got their daily requirement of salt from consuming the blood of animals.
- Wars have been fought over salt, and many civilizations rose and fell in pursuit of what came to be called “white gold.”
- When the ability of salt to preserve food was first discovered, it changed society and opened the possibility to travel and carry food.
Your body is like a little, walking ocean – hey, now you can say that you live by the sea!
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is educational in nature. The FDA may not have evaluated some of the statements. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before adding supplements or making any changes to your dietary program.
Before taking vitamins, consult your doctor; pre-existing medical conditions or medications you are taking can affect how your body responds to multivitamins.
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