Salt – Is Sodium Good For You?
In health and diet, sodium is a basic element that is not needed or used by the body. When ingested in the food we eat or drink, it can be assimilated by the body and used by the kidneys to regulate and maintain blood pressure levels. The kidneys are designed for taking care of all aspects of the body including the well being of the heart, the liver and the skin.
It has been said that people are over-reliant on salt which is very hard on the heart. This is because of the low amount of other nutrients in water, fiber and healthy proteins in the water. When the kidney cannot carry out its normal function of using the salt in the diet as an energy source, it can become too rich with sodium.
We need the kidneys to perform well and this means that we need to maintain a proper balance between the daily intake of sodium and the amount our kidneys can detoxify. This is easily accomplished by limiting the intake of salt.
If you are not consuming plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, they are high in salt. When you do consume them, your body will expel salt through your urine.
This can cause a build up in the lower part of the kidneys, which in turn can cause the salt to be flushed from the system. You are advised to follow the guidelines in my book called I Can Help With Your Hypertension. This will help you keep your kidneys working properly and get rid of the harmful sodium in your body.
Drink plenty of water to flush out the excess sodium and add at least eight glasses to your diet. Keep in mind that excessive water consumption has been proven to increase the chances of suffering from heart disease.
Too much saturated fat in the diet causes your body to release hormones that can reduce the production of essential fatty acids. These are essential for good circulation and the well being of the muscles.
Both of these aspects are enhanced by increased dietary fiber. Not only is your metabolism stimulated by the addition of fiber, but also the body will flush out fat as it works to burn calories.
It is also important to maintain the proper balance of complex carbohydrates in your diet. People are encouraged to eat more whole foods and less processed and fast foods.
An addition of nutrients such as magnesium can improve the absorption of magnesium from whole foods into the bloodstream and it allows the body to increase the level of magnesium it uses to produce energy. Try to stay away from foods that contain gluten, carotenoids and other green-colored pigment.
Health and nutrition are a journey that one should take. Hopefully, these tips will guide you in making your own personal healthy living plan.