Be sure you and your health care provider monitor your blood pressure regularly. Current research suggests a diet high in potassium and calcium may help lower blood pressure. Sodium is normally recycled through the body and it is only necessary to eat enough sodium to replace your daily losses. Sodium may be lost by the body through perspiration, secretions and normal excretory functions. To replace this loss, consume 1-3 grams of sodium per day.
Sodium is a regular part of our food supply.
It is found naturally in meats, nut, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in low amounts. Unfortunately, most of the sodium Americans eat today is added to food in the form of sodium chloride, or table salt. Table salt is added to food by the manufacturer in the process of preserving and processing, and it is widely used as a flavor enhancer. Sodium is also hidden as a part of other chemical additives, such as sodium nitrate, sodium benzoate saccharin, and monosodium glutamate. As result many Americans unknowingly consume three to five times more sodium than they need.