It's so hot (part 2)

Sodium is the second part of the equation in balancing fluids in your body; it is also an essential mineral found in every cell, and is involved in muscle contraction, nerve stimulation and digestion. It is so easily obtained that it is usually unnecessary to supplement; it's true that what you may taste on your skin when you sweat seems like all salt, but actually very little is lost this way except under extreme physical exertion. Along with potassium, it regulates the balance of fluids in and out of the cells; when sodium levels are too high, we retain fluid, causing the body to swell and often increase blood pressure. We should actually have a higher intake of potassium than sodium by a 9:4 ratio, but because sodium is found in all processed foods, we typically take in three times as much sodium as we need. The daily requirement is 2,000 milligrams a day, but the average person takes in around 6,000-15,000 A DAY!! Fast foods, processed foods (soups, seasonings, snacks and sauces are all particularly high), animal foods, table salt and other salts (MSG, baking soda, etc.) all contribute to this high intake - some form of sodium is added to almost everything not labeled sodium-free, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, and most fruit juices. You should aim to keep your meals and snacks as fresh and natural as possible, and by preparing them yourself, you can control how much they are seasoned with salt. Okay, that's it - if you get puffy and bloated this summer, you know how you got there; when you do go overboard, drink a LOT of water, maybe with some lemon - it's a natural diuretic! Melissa