Sodium & Water Balance in the Body

Many people associate sodium with an unhealthy diet. However, sodium is an essential nutrient that is an important component of any diet. The key is to keep the sodium low and maintain a sodium and water balance.

Sources of Sodium

• Sodium is found in many foods besides table salt. Meat, seafood, dairy, breads, snack foods and all processed foods contain sodium.

Why Sodium is Important

• Sodium is an electrolyte that dissolves into the bloodstream. It maintains nerve and muscle functions.

Conditions That Create Imbalance

• Dehydration is a major source of imbalance, which results when more water is excreted from the body than consumed. Other causes of imbalance are heart and kidney disorders, and drug interactions.

Too Much Sodium

• Too much sodium causes blood cells to shrink, or crenate. The body fights this by causing thirst, conserving water by reducing urine, and by adding more water to the blood from other organs.

Too Little Sodium

• Blood cells expand and pull water into the cell if the blood has too little salt. This can result in cells rupturing. The body fights this condition by producing more urine.