The symptoms of low sodium in blood (hyponatremia) are:
- Muscle twitching
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Confusion
Why does the Body Need Salt?
Salt is not all that bad. In fact, the body needs a bit of sodium to function. Salt is needed to transmit nerve pulses from the brain to different parts of the body. Salt is also used by muscles to contract and relax.
This is why drinks made for athletes contain electrolytes since a lot of sodium is lost when the muscles are exerted. Salt is also essential to maintain a balance of fluids in the body.
Dietary Sources of Salt
The American Heart Association (AHA) states that the average human should not ingest more than 2,300 mg of salt per day, and that adults should limit their salt intake to 1,500 mg per day.
However, most people tend to exceed that limit because of their food choices. If you are trying to reduce sodium in blood and do not know where to start, it is best to first find out which types of food contain the most amount of salt.
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