Ordinary table salt is sodium chloride, and sodium is very necessary for us. Sodium attracts water into the blood vessels, keeping the proper blood volume and the pressure within the blood vessels more or less constant, regulated by your kidneys. But, as you probably know, too much salt is unhealthy, increasing blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and kidney problems, and many of us consume salt in far greater quantities than necessary. A high intake of sodium can also lead to an extraction of calcium into the urine, although at the moment it is uncertain what is an excessive amount. But the conservative approach is to maintain a low-salt diet – no more than 2000 mg per day, as recommended by the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association.

Apart from table salt, sodium is found in many other foods, naturally present or as a part of processing and preserving. The wisest course is to eat fresh unprocessed foods as much as possible, seasoning generously with herbs and spices. When eating out, forsake fast foods and choose the salad bar without a large serving of dressing.

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