How Sodium Benefits Your Body: 5 Surprising Facts You Need to Know

Sodium is a mineral that plays an important role in many bodily functions. It is essential for maintaining fluid balance, regulating blood pressure, facilitating nerve and muscle function, enhancing taste and flavor, and may even improving exercise performance. In this blog, we'll explore these benefits of sodium in more detail and provide references to support each benefit.
April 11, 2023 by


1.Maintains Fluid Balance

Sodium helps maintain fluid balance in the body by regulating the amount of water inside and outside cells. This is important for many bodily processes, such as maintaining blood volume and blood pressure. A study published in the journal Nutrients found that sodium is essential for fluid homeostasis in the body (1).

2.Regulates Blood Pressure

Sodium plays a role in regulating blood pressure. While excessive sodium intake can increase blood pressure, consuming the right amount of sodium is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that sodium restriction can help lower blood pressure in individuals with hypertension (2).

3.Facilitates Nerve and Muscle Function

Sodium plays an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions. This is crucial for many bodily functions, such as movement and sensory perception. A review published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that sodium is crucial for the function of skeletal muscle and the nervous system (3).

4.Enhances Taste and Flavor

Sodium is an important flavor enhancer in foods. It can enhance the perceived intensity of sweet, sour, and umami tastes. A study published in the journal Chemical Senses found that sodium can enhance taste and flavor (4).

5.May Improve Exercise Performance

Sodium supplementation may improve exercise performance in athletes by maintaining fluid balance and preventing dehydration. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that sodium supplementation can improve exercise performance in endurance athletes (5).

While sodium is essential for many bodily functions, it's important to consume it in moderation. Excessive sodium intake can increase the risk of high blood pressure and other health issues. Therefore, it's important to follow dietary guidelines for sodium intake.



References:

  1. Luft FC. Sodium and volume: a final word? Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1559.
  2. Mente A, et al. Urinary sodium excretion, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and mortality: a community-level prospective epidemiological cohort study. Lancet. 2018;392(10146):496-506.
  3. Burg MB, Ferraris JD. Intracellular organic osmolytes: function and regulation. J Clin Invest. 2008;118(10):2925-38.
  4. Prescott J, et al. Sodium enhances the sweetness and suppresses bitterness perception. Chem Senses. 2012;37(2):185-93.
  5. Baker LB, et al. Sodium balance, fluid balance, and hydration status in elite male football players training in a cool environment. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2012;22(6):379-87.