Sir Humphry Davy, pioneer of modern electrochemistry, had been able to represent sodium for the first time in 1807 by electrolysis of molten alkalis. Using the voltaic column, he had decomposed sodium hydroxide and represented atomic sodium pure.
Mode of action of sodium
A blood test of sodium levels is used by doctors to further diagnose various diseases. Sodium is very common in the world. The alkali metal has a percentage of 2.64 in our earth’s crust, in the light of the sun and most other celestial bodies, the sodium D-line is easily detectable. Because of its violent reactivity, sodium does not occur elementally, but always in compounds. The largest reservoir of bound sodium salts is the water of the world’s oceans, with a concentration of 11 g of sodium ions per liter of seawater. Consequently, dried-up sea areas are profound storage sites of sodium chloride (NaCl) and valuable salt production sites. Sodium chloride is common salt. Oligoclase, which is also used in jewelry making, and albite, also called sodium feldspar, are sodium minerals. Other natural sodium minerals are processed into fertilizers or glass.
Meaning
Sodium as a basic element has elemental importance for human health. The organism cannot synthesize sodium from ingested food by itself. Approximately 2 grams of essential sodium must be supplied to the body daily. This corresponds to an amount of about 5 grams of common salt. More precisely: 1 gram of table salt contains about 0.4 grams of sodium. Maintaining the natural balance of the sodium balance is enormously important and closely linked to the regulation of the body’s fluid balance as well as nerve and muscle functions, digestion, the transmission of excitation potentials and the acid-base balance. The pressure and volume of all body fluids inside and outside the cells and the water balance of the organism are regulated by sodium. The human body contains 70 grams of sodium, of which about 35 percent is stored in the bones. This reservoir can be accessed in case of insufficiency in order to compensate for deficiencies. Together with potassium, sodium regulates the water balance as well as the pressure and volume of the blood and other body fluids outside the cells. Therefore, too much salt drives up blood pressure. The body’s cells shrink. The daily overdose of common salt must be balanced by additional work of the kidneys. Together with the excess salt, valuable calcium is also flushed out. The increased intake of sodium can also lead to the formation of edema. Heavy sweating during sports or pathological diarrhea generate a sodium deficiency. The body loses too much water. This dehydration disturbs muscle function and eminently damages the kidneys. Salt-free diets can thus lead to high health risks, a drop in blood pressure and states of weakness. The first signals of a sodium deficiency are muscle cramps. It has now been proven that in addition to magnesium deficiency, sodium deficiency is responsible for 80 percent of cramps.
Occurrence in food
Balanced salt or sodium intake is therefore of major importance. In this regard, the high salt content of various foods must always be calculated. Salt here also acts as a preservative and flavor enhancer. And so low-sodium vegetables and fruits, as well as the sparing use of table salt in the kitchen, are intended to offset the questionable effect of opulent table salt bombs. More specifically:
Meat, fish and certain dairy products contain a lot of sodium,
Fish sticks, matjes, blue cheese or grained broth are almost salt concentrates, of which one should eat little. Fresh herbs and various spices often make it unnecessary to reach for the salt shaker. At the same time, they are healthy and provide the more refined seasoning. Strictly avoid flavor enhancers, for example sodium glutamate, but always prefer low-sodium drinking water.