Is too much sodium bad?
In the year 1600, Rosalind, a character from William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” said, “Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?” 410 years later this question still remains, especially when it comes to the food we eat. The answer is simple; too much of a good thing, such as sodium, makes food taste better!
Sodium is an essential mineral and electrolyte that balances out how much water is inside and outside of the body’s cells and plays a vital role in the performance of our nerves and muscles. Most natural foods have low amounts of sodium in them already such as fruits, vegetables, meats and nuts.
If a well-balanced diet is consumed, one will get all of the sodium they need in a day. Most people get into trouble with sodium when they turn to processed convenience foods to satisfy their hunger. In just one hamburger from your favorite fast food restaurant, there is about 1,007mg of sodium, not to mention the fries and soda that came with it add on another 358mg to your daily diet. In just one fast food meal, there can be anywhere between 1,000mg to 2,250mg of sodium.
The current Recommend Daily Allowance (RDA) for sodium in the United States is to consume less than 2,400mg of sodium per day. This is approximately 1 teaspoon of table salt. People with high blood pressure should consume less than 1,500mg of sodium per day. In the United States, the average intake for one person is between 4,000 and 5,000 mg of sodium per day! With alarming numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that life threatening health concerns are on the rise. In some people, excess sodium consumption may raise their blood pressure.For those who have high blood pressure, eating foods with an abundance of sodium increases their chance of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Since sodium is responsible for balancing out how much water the body holds in, it can cause the legs and hands to swell in addition to being a contributing factor of heart failure.
Hippocrates seems to have said it best, “everything in excess is opposed to nature”. Keeping this simple quote in mind will keep you on track for a longer, healthier and fulfilling life.