Sodium is a trace element that we need in our body, which maintains the normal function of our body and is also a substance that our body cannot do without. However, no matter which trace element is too much or too little, it will have a serious impact on our body weight. You must pay attention to your diet at ordinary times and adjust it in time after an abnormal situation occurs. So, is sodium harmful to human body? Let's have a look.

A certain amount of sodium ion is harmless to human body and can maintain the balance of body fluids in human body. But too much sodium ion, that is, eating too salty, will gradually cause hypertension, affect the absorption of calcium and increase the excretion of calcium. Sodium ion is the main cation in extracellular fluid and plays an important role in maintaining the osmotic pressure of extracellular fluid crystals. Sodium ions combine with water molecules to form hydrated ions, which can preserve water and prevent loss. Sodium ion plays an important role in maintaining nerve and muscle stress and cell membrane permeability.

The main component of salt is sodium, so if sodium salt accumulates too much in the body, the osmotic pressure of cells will change. In order to maintain a certain osmotic pressure, the human body will absorb a lot of water, and the volume of whole blood will increase, thus overloading the heart and inducing or aggravating the symptoms of heart failure. Excessive sodium will also increase blood pressure and accelerate the hardening process of renal arterioles. Therefore, whether it is high blood pressure or heart disease, everyone must control the amount of salt in the diet. When high sodium intake leads to hypertension, potassium can lower blood pressure. This is because sodium and potassium are the main electrolytes in body fluids and play an important role in regulating the balanced distribution of body fluids. They must balance each other and jointly control the water balance of the human body. In normal human extracellular fluid, sodium ions account for 92% of the total cations, and potassium ions in intracellular fluid account for about 98% of the total cations.

Through the above introduction, we now know that sodium is an essential trace element for human body, but we should also pay attention to maintaining a balance, especially in our daily diet. The usual diet should not be too salty, which is also an effective way to preserve health or regulate the body. In addition, drink plenty of water at ordinary times.