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Sodium
All forms of animal life must have sodium in their bodies in order to survive. There are many functions that it helps to regulate, so it must be a part of your daily diet. Fortunately, it is very easy to get your daily minimum sodium intake without having to resort to some special meal plan or preparation.
In fact, unlike most vitamins and minerals, most humans consume far too much of this element, sometimes up to ten times the recommended daily amount.
The need for sodium in the human body is essential for many different functions. It helps neurotransmitters react properly, regulates blood flow, helps keep your heart healthy (in the correct quantities of course), can help eliminate waste and even contributes to the regulation of your metabolism.
Sodium is not needed by plant life, so vegetarians often have trouble getting enough in their diets and have to add table salt to their dishes. Meat eaters however often will find salt to be abundant in their diets and may have to actually be careful not to exceed the recommended 500mg per day of this element.
Too much salt (the naturally-occurring version of this element) can lead to high blood pressure, water retention, and some genetically-occurring problems that can be exacerbated by too much salt.
Try to regulate your salt intake by eating fresh veggies instead of canned ones, watching out for anything with 'soda' in it (such as bicarbonate or baking soda) and remembering that most spice blends and mixes do have salt in them. Watch out for hidden salt in things like tomato sauces, butter, creams and meats that are pre-seasoned. Anything with low or reduced salt can really help, so read your labels and happy eating!
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