Essential Sodium Rich Foods

Sodium contains naturally in many foods and is also added in the form of salt or other sodium-containing substances. It is an element that is soft and silvery white in appearance. Usually found inside as well as outside the body, in combination with other elements, it is consumed in the form of sodium chloride.

ESSENTIAL SODIUM RICH FOODS

Sodium is highly reactive, alkaline, metallic and malleable in nature and is essential for regulation of blood and body fluids. Aside from that, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity, and certain metabolic functions in the human body also require the presence of this particular element. Plants are the only living beings that do not require sodium for their survival.

Image Credit

List of Sodium Rich Foods

? Beet Greens

? Beets

? Black-eyed beans

? Buttermilk

? Celery

? Cheese

? Chick peas

? Corn meal

? Fruits

? Garbanzo beans

? Kelp / Sea vegetables

? Leafy vegetables

? Legumes

? Milk

? Olives

Image Credit

? Pulses

? Salted butter or margarine

? Sauerkraut

? Spinach

? Swiss Chard

Image Credit

? Wakame

Benefits of Sodium

? Sodium helps in maintenance of water balance of the body. It helps in pumping water in the cells and regulating the excess cellular fluid in the body.

? Sunstroke or heat exhaustion can be addressed, by consuming food rich in sodium, as they immediately replace the loss of essential electrolytes such as salt and water.

? Right intake of sodium enhances brain activity and keeps the mind sharp. Remember, human brain is extremely sensitive to changing sodium levels in the body.

? Muscle cramps can be avoided by taking foods rich in sodium. Usually in hot season or summer, due to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration, while water keeps the body hydrated, sodium restores the amount of electrolyte loss.

? For glossy and healthy skin, sodium will help you keep the skin youthful and glowing, which is why it is an important hydrating product of almost all anti-aging creams.

? Sodium helps in the absorption of glucose by cells for smooth transportation of nutrients in body cell membranes.

? Sodium plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy functioning of the heart. Apart from upholding the contraction of the heart, it also maintains the blood pressure levels of the human body.

? Excess of carbon dioxide in the body is not beneficial for healthy living. Sodium helps in removing excess amount of toxic carbon dioxide accumulated in the body.

? Another important benefit of sodium is that it balances the osmotic pressure in the human body, by regulating the fluid in body cells.

? Sodium helps in balancing positively charged and negatively charged ions, as it shares an association with chlorides and bicarbonates, which help in maintaining a sound balance between the two types.

Health Concern: Sodium is one substance most people get too much of. While it is possible to be deficient in sodium, such deficiencies are incredibly rare, and for most people the problem is too much sodium.

The most serious and well-documented effects of excess sodium in the diet are high blood pressure and heart disease. Anyone who is prone to heart disease or high blood pressure should use caution when eating sodium rich foods.

Sodium deficiency is quite rare, due to the high levels of sodium in the modern diet. However, symptoms of a sodium deficient diet can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and muscle weakness.

Reference:

http://health.learninginfo.org/sodium.htm

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/sodium-rich-foods

Google Image