Sodium - The Youth Element

Sodium is one of seven essential macrominerals. It has gotten a bad rap in our society because of the sodium chloride used in white table salt. The sodium we are discussing is very beneficial and extremely necessary for our bodies to function well.

Sodium and potassium work closely together. High sodium intake can raise blood pressure while high potassium intake relaxes arterial walls, helps the body excrete the sodium, thereby lowering the blood pressure. The body needs a lot more potassium than sodium.

Sodium from food and herbal sources helps calcium keep your body strong and flexible. It is called the "Youth Element" for this very reason.

Benefits

Keeps calcium and magnesium balanced
Keeps us youthful
Conducts nerve impulses
Contracts and relaxes muscles
Maintains proper balance of water and minerals
Aids in production of HCI or hydrochloric acid (stomach acid used to breakdown food)
Helps maintain a normal metabolism
Works on a cellular level

Causes of Deficiency

Gastrointestinal issues, nausea/vomiting, pancreatitis, burns, excessive sweating

Symptoms of Deficiency

Nervousness, low blood sugar, joint pain and swelling, digestive problems, excessive vomiting, excessive diarrhea, excessive sweating, altered mental state/confusion, fatigue, seizures, muscle degeneration, abdominal cramps, depression, dizziness, hallucinations, headache, heart palpitations, poor coordination, recurrent infections

Drugs That Deplete

Thiazides, bumetanide, indapamide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide; serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, protriptyline, desipramine), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, venlafaxine; phenothiazines (thioridazine, trifluperazine), butyrophenones (haloperidol); carbamezepine, oxcarbazepine, sodium valproate, lamotrigine; vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine), platinum compounds (cisplatin, carboplatin), alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, melphalan, ifosfamide), and other anticancer agents (methotrexate, interferon alpha and gamma, levamisole, pentostatin, monoclonal antibodies); opiates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, acetaminophen; chlorpropamide, tolbutamide; deamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), oxytocin;

Natural Sources

Carrot, radish, bell pepper, tomato, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, apple, avocados, mango, papaya, pineapple, bananas, dandelion; nearly all foods have a little sodium

Caution

It is possible to have too much sodium. These symptoms can be present: Swelling in extremities, high blood pressure, potassium deficiency, liver disorders, nausea/vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, intense thirst, confusion, kidney damage

Resources

1) Zehiroglu, C., & Sarikaya, S. B. O. (2019). The importance of antioxidants and place in today’s scientific and technological studies. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56(11), 4757–4774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-03952-x
2) BSc, A. A., PhD. (2023, July 12). Antioxidants explained in simple terms. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained#free-radicals
3) Janciauskiene, S. (2020). The beneficial effects of antioxidants in health and diseases. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Journal of the COPD Foundation, 7(3), 182–202. https://doi.org/10.15326/jcopdf.7.3.2019.0152
4) Pham-Huy, L. A., He, H., & Pham-Huy, C. (2008, June 1). Free radicals, antioxidants in disease and health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3614697/#sec5
5) Deavall, D. G., Martin, E. A., Horner, J. M., & Roberts, R. (2012). Drug-Induced Oxidative stress and toxicity. Journal of Toxicology, 2012, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/645460
6) Kahn, J. (2022, August 26). Nine benefits of antioxidants: From disease prevention to healthy aging. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/benefits-of-antioxidants