How the mineral helps your body function
People often wonder if sodium is salt.
Sodium and salt are not the same thing, but sodium is one component of table salt.
Sodium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in the body.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
There are important differences between the two, however.
Table salt is the crystal-like chemical compoundsodium chloride.
“Sodium” refers to the essential mineral sodium, which is a component of sodium chloride.
It plays an important role in certain physiologic functions and is essential for keeping body fluids balanced.
The body doesn’t make sodium, so you have to obtain it from the foods you eat.
Besides sodium chloride, other substances that contain sodium are commonly found in food.
Monosodium glutamate, for example, is a flavor enhancer that is often added to the food we eat.
Other forms of sodium do contribute to your total intake, however.
Table salt is a combination of the mineral elements sodium and chloride.
Broken down by weight, sodium makes up approximately 40% of table salt.
Its one of theelectrolytesresponsible for maintaining a healthy amount of fluids in the body.
Too much ortoo little sodiumcan cause some of those bodily processes to malfunction.
The body does not produce its own sodiumit is only acquired from food.
Unlike other nutrients such as calcium or vitamin D, it is rarely necessary to take sodium supplements.
The sodium supplied by a normal diet is typically adequate.
Restaurant meals and fast foods are also typically high in sodium.
Its also used to prevent microbial growth that would cause food to spoil or make people get sick.
Other potential sources of sodium include drinking water and certain medications, such as acetaminophen and antacids.
But as experts point out, you cant always count on your taste buds to sound the alarm.
Hyponatremia requires close monitoring by a medical team.
Sometimes medical intervention is needed, but it’s important that sodium is carefully and gradually repleted.
Overcorrecting too rapidly can be harmful.
While theres no quick fix, federal regulators are aiming for a broad reduction in the next several years.
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Ways to cut back…gradually.
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