Too low sodium levels are dangerous

LotusF1ower
LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
People are constantly worried about too much sodium in their diets, however nothing is ever mentioned about too little.

The benefits of sodium in the body are:

Sodium is an electrolyte that plays a crucial role in maintaining blood pressure.
Along with Potassium and Chloride, it regulates fluids and acid-base balance in the body.
It is also involved in nerve transmission and muscle contraction, including the heartbeat.
Sodium may be beneficial for the treatment of diarrhoea, leg cramps, dehydration and fever.
Sodium functions with Chloride and Bicarbonate to maintain a balance of positive and negative ions in our body fluid and tissues.
Sodium also helps to keep calcium and other minerals soluble in the blood, as well as stimulating the adrenal glands.

The minimum daily requirement for sodium ranges from 120mg for children and 500mg for adults and children over 10 years of age.

The maximum daily recommended intake is around the 2400mg mark. Some countries have a lower recommendation than this though.

Too little sodium in the body can cause the following symptoms:

Fatigue, headache, muscle cramping, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

Low sodium in the body can also cause confusion, limited alertness, irritability, and in extreme cases can lead to hallucinations and coma.

Now I am not, for one minute, saying we should all go into our kitchens right now and eat a spoonful of salt, however, I just wanted to put in this topic to make aware that just as too high sodium levels in the body can cause serious health issues, it also goes for too low levels too.

Replies

  • SylvieJacques
    SylvieJacques Posts: 113 Member
    I agree with you. Having said that, there are sodium into so many things that we buy that I feel like we have to watch as it is very easy to go high without even adding sodium into anything.
  • xarrium
    xarrium Posts: 432 Member
    Good post! This is the problem with a lot of what the diet industry (and to be honest, government health boards as well) advertises--we always need more of something or less of another, there's seemingly no middle ground, which is what would keep us the healthiest. Thanks for putting this up!
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
    I agree with you. Having said that, there are sodium into so many things that we buy that I feel like we have to watch as it is very easy to go high without even adding sodium into anything.

    Absolutely. I never add salt to anything now because as you quite rightly state, salt is already added into most foods anyway :flowerforyou:
  • ❤B☩❤
    ❤B☩❤ Posts: 634
    Very informative post, and I thank you for it. I do not salt anything, and yet I still find that I come within 200-300 mg of my daily allowance. So it is very important for all of us to realize just how much we ARE getting, but just as important to realize how much we NEED...and why! Knowledge is power! Thanks for that power! I will have to pass this on to my husband who gets leg grams so bad that it wakes him up out of a sound sleep and they don't go away for sometimes 1/2-3/4 of an hour later.

    I appreciate the information! Have a great day! : )
  • TrainingWithTonya
    TrainingWithTonya Posts: 1,741 Member
    Great post! Another thing to consider is that Iodized Table Salt is the only way that most people get Iodine. Low iodine levels can cause thyroid issues, which can cause problems with weight loss. Remember though, the RDA of iodine can be reached by 1/2 teaspoon of iodized salt. ;)
  • sweetoblivion314
    sweetoblivion314 Posts: 55
    It's actually the balance of sodium and potassium that we should strive for not the elimination of sodium. Many of the health issues attributed to high sodium are actually due to eating much more sodium then potassium. You should strive for a higher potassium intake then sodium intake to achieve balance.
  • megamom
    megamom Posts: 920 Member
    Great post! Another thing to consider is that Iodized Table Salt is the only way that most people get Iodine. Low iodine levels can cause thyroid issues, which can cause problems with weight loss. Remember though, the RDA of iodine can be reached by 1/2 teaspoon of iodized salt. ;)

    I am glad you brought that up. I have been watching sodium for a couple of decades since I had a son with renal failure so I am aware of the sodium in foods. But with sea salt, which I love people should know they don't add the iodine. As a nurse I know it all about the balance and proper amounts, to much..... problems, too little....... problems.
  • Amarea
    Amarea Posts: 91 Member
    ODonna,

    Just wanted to say that leg cramps are very often a result of low potassium. Maybe try a few more bananas in his diet. I have a problem with potassium so this actually helps keep the numbers up.
  • PaulaDygert
    PaulaDygert Posts: 148 Member
    I agree I was recently drinking too much water washing out the sodium in my body. I started shutting down my kidneys and a bunch of dangerous stuff basically I was killing myself without realizing it. The doctor told me to add salt to anything I can to get for a little bit to help level things out.
  • Natural
    Natural Posts: 461 Member
    i hardly ever add salt to anything, but whatever natural sodium is in the food, that's what i eat. never heard about having too little sodium. interesting and thanks for sharing.
  • IsMollyReallyHungry
    IsMollyReallyHungry Posts: 15,389 Member
    Thanks for info. I will never have this problem at this time. It is good to know for sure. I am trying to just get undert 2500 for now and that is a challenge.
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