This article is provided as a public service by the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, in cooperation with the UAF research community. Guest author, Tom Gosink, is a Research Associate with the Institute.
Sodium is absolutely essential for life.
The average adult requires about a quarter to a half of a teaspoon of salt a day, but studies show that the average adult takes in five to twenty times that much. Sodium is not the only component in required salts. Potassium is also required for muscle function, but in only one thirtieth the concentration as sodium. Oranges and bananas are two of several common sources of potassium in our diets. A large percentage of table salt is highly refined sea salt.