It is one of the nutrients like fats that have to be taken in limited quantities; if taken more than what is required, the negative effects start to show. It is required to maintain fluid balance in the body and also helps the functioning of muscles and nerves.

‘Canned foods, chips, salted snack foods, beef, frozen foods, hot dogs and salt’ are common sources of it.

Many nutrition agencies recommend that an adult has to consume less than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day and older adults, people with high blood pressure should take less than 1500 milligrams of sodium per day.

Deficiency of sodium causes Hyponatremia, nausea, muscle cramps, stroke and low blood pressure.