Dietary sodium

Dietary Sodium

Dietary Sodium (pronounced: die-uh-tair-ee soh-dee-uhm) is a mineral that is found in many foods and is essential for the body's normal function. The term "dietary sodium" is often used interchangeably with salt, but they are not exactly the same thing. Sodium is a component of salt, but salt also contains chloride.

Etymology

The term "sodium" comes from the English word "soda". The term "dietary" is derived from the Greek word "diaita", which means "way of life".

Function

Dietary sodium plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's fluid balance, transmitting nerve impulses, and influencing the contraction and relaxation of muscles. The body needs a small amount of sodium to function properly, but too much can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Sources

Sodium is naturally present in a variety of foods, including meat, dairy products, and vegetables. It is also added to many processed and prepared foods to enhance flavor and preserve freshness. The main source of dietary sodium for most people is table salt.

Recommended Intake

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. However, the average American consumes more than 3,400 milligrams per day, much more than the recommended amount.

Related Terms

• Salt
• Chloride
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Table salt
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Dietary sodium
• Wikipedia's article - Dietary sodium

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