Sodium Encounter – Another Toxic Nutrient
This post is similar to Good and Bad Effects of Salt. But this one is a true to life story like the popular movie Titanic. In short my previous post was base on this article.
Few months Ago:
We developed a product called dragon fruit jam. Brought it to Food and Nutrition Research Institute for nutrition analysis. Then we imprinted the test result to product’s label. Nutrition labeling is a mandatory requirement in some countries like US, Canada, Japan and European territories. I hope nutrition labeling is also mandatory here in Philippines.
We gave some samples to our funding agency, Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (DOST-PCIERD). They told us that our product was good but they are worried about the sodium content written on nutrition facts section of the label, the value was high. Sorry! I can’t remember the exact amount.
According to wikipedia, sodium is a metallic element with a symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals within “group 1″ . It has only one stable isotope.
Sodium is an essential nutrient. It is needed to help regulate fluids, transmit nerve impulses, and contract muscles. Low sodium intake may lead to sodium deficiency, hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. Symptoms includes nausea and vomiting, headache, confusion, lethargy, fatigue, appetite loss, restlessness and irritability, muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps, seizures, and decreased consciousness or coma.
Few weeks ago:
I went to grocery together with my hubby to buy our weekly supplies. My attention was caught by the sodium written in every pack of goods we bought. My hubby told me that too much sodium is harmful.
Sodium is harmful? I googled it and found out. Too much sodium increases blood pressure, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It also boost the risk of asthma, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and stomach cancer. Sodium may come in different forms. Sodium – nitrite, carbonate, bicarbonate, metabisulfite, erythorbate. They are added to foods to enhance flavor and act as stabilizers or preservatives.
Sodium is another toxic essential nutrient. Care should be taken not to consume it in excess.
- Mandatory Food Labeling Requirements, Philippines
- Artificial Juice Label Should Not Have Real Fruit Pictures
- Coke Light or Coke Zero?
- “No Artificial Preservatives Added” Declaration
- Nestle® Coffee Mate, Zero Trans Fat, Ingredients and Nutrition
- Sodium Benzoate, Uses and Side Effects
- Making A Generic Tablea Label for Pure Cacao and …
- Drink Coffee to Lower the Risk of Gouty Arthritis?
- Is Phenylalanine Good For You ?
- Avoid Corned Beef and Other Meat Products With Bright Red Color
Everything has its merits and demerits.The point is that how much we are aware of the both! We generally don’t want to see the harmful one.This ignorance might result in severe effects just like in case of sodium.Of course, it’s important but excess intake must be avoided.Really an informative post!
[Reply]