The Scoop on Salt
One of the most frequently asked questions of clients on the Healthy Inspirations Weight Loss Plan is "Why do I need to take 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of salt each day?"
Salt, also referred to as sodium, is an essential mineral that the human body needs to function. First, sodium is the main component of the body's extra cellular fluids and it helps carry nutrients into the cells. Next, sodium also helps regulate other body functions, such as blood pressure and fluid volume, and sodium works on the lining of blood vessels to keep the pressure-balance normal. Another important function of sodium is keeping the other blood minerals soluble, so that they will not build up as deposits in the bloodstream. In addition, sodium functions with potassium to equalize the acid-alkali factor in the blood and together these minerals help to regulate water balance within the body. In addition, sodium and potassium are also involved in muslce contraction and expansion and in nerve stimulation. These are just some of the primary functions of sodium in the body.
Although the body can't exist without sodium, the amount we actually need is rather small. The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC has determined that the recommended safe minimum daily amount is about 500 milligrams of sodium with an upper limit of 2,400 milligrams. Amazingly enough, though, many Americans now consume up to 6,000 milligrams of salt a day because eating preserved and processed foods has become a way of life. This high level of salt intake is dangerous for the body.
When you begin the Healthy Inspirations program, your body is "detoxified" of high levels of salt because you're eating healthy, unprocessed foods and increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Believe it or not, if a client followed only "Healthy Choices," for an extended period of time, they may not reach the daily minimum of sodium intake, which could result in a slight electrolight imbalance. This is easily avoided by adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of light salt each day to meals.
