What not enough sodium can do!

I have found out how much Sodium can affect my weightloss this past year. It seems to be a daily struggle for alot of us. But too little isn't good either.

I just wanted to share this information with everyone.


What Are the Effects of Not Getting Enough Sodium in Your Diet?

While sodium in the diet is often thought of in a negative way, the fact is that sodium plays an important role in the body's processes, and without it we would die. Sodium regulates the body's water pressure and balances, and transmits nerve impulses that allow muscles to move and contract. In digestion, it moves essential amino acids from the intestines to the bloodstream, and is required for the absorption of sugar. Even though there are grave dangers associated with getting too much sodium in the body--such as high blood pressure and inflammation--getting too little sodium, or losing the sodium that is in your system, can be just as dangerous.
How We Lose Sodium
It is very rare to not get enough sodium from a diet, as even whole, unprocessed foods have a natural sodium content. Sodium loss often comes through sweating, dehydration, diarrhea and vomiting. As our body temperature heats up, the body perspires for the purpose of cooling down the skin, and sodium is lost with this perspiration. Dehydration occurs when we lose more water than we are taking in. This is a common side effect of sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. Along with sodium, we lose valuable electrolytes that are essential to body processes.
Low Blood Pressure
When salt and water are lost from the body, the fluid on the outside of the cells is lost, causing a decrease in blood volume. Decreased blood volume can lead to decreased blood pressure. If the pressure gets too low, the blood cannot get essential nutrients and oxygen to vital organs, including the heart, brain and kidneys. Depending on how long these organs go without vital nutrients and oxygen, they can be permanently damaged and cease to function. Fatigue is also a result of the lowered blood pressure that comes with not getting enough sodium.
Nausea and Dizziness
Nausea and dizziness can also set in due to a sodium deficiency. When there isn't enough sodium in the body, water that is taken in can flow into the cells. The sodium cannot regulate the water within the cells like it should, and the result is swelling. This swelling of the tissues takes place throughout the body. The swelling of brain tissue can cause dizziness and headaches, while inflammation in other tissues can cause nausea and muscle cramping and twitching.
Stroke
Stroke, or even death, is the most extreme effect of inadequate sodium in the body. If the brain tissue swells too much, it is put under extreme pressure against the skull. This pressure may start out as a headache and lead to a stroke. When the body's sodium content gets this low, there is also a chance that vital organs could shut down, as the blood is not flowing fast enough to deliver oxygen and nutrients to support their function.
Recommended Sodium Intake
The recommended daily intake for sodium is no more than 2,300 mg per day, but the cells only need 500 mg per day to maintain proper functioning. Any food that is processed has a high sodium content, and if you eat processed foods--even bread--you shouldn't worry about not getting enough sodium in your diet. Whole, natural foods also have sodium. Celery, beets, seafood and poultry all have higher amounts of naturally occurring sodium. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats will assure that you are getting an adequate daily intake. To protect your body from an excess loss of sodium, avoid exercising in severe heat, and when you experience vomiting or diarrhea, replace the fluid loss with an electrolyte-balanced drink rather than water alone.