I'm sorry if I put this in the wrong section. I'm new, but the Nutrition and Health Forum said that I could post questions.
I am in college and writing an English paper. I have written about Sodium's effects on the human body. I must conduct an interview and was wondering if anyone would be so kind. I have had a difficult time finding anyone who knows something about sodium. I have put the questions below, if anyone would answer them, that would be great. You may add on extra questions or elaborate on them, as you see fit. Please pm me your answers as well as name and credentials(such as, how long have you been a nutritionist).

1) What effect does sodium have on the body?
2) How is sodium processed in the body?
3) What organs does excessive sodium consumption harm?
4) Is it possible for sodium levels to be too low?
5) I know that sodium is involved in water retention. Do pregnant women have lower levels of sodium?
6) Does excessive sodium consumption lead to hypertension?
7) Is sodium harmful to humans?
8) Do you believe, that the average American consumes too much sodium?
9) Are any organs aided by sodium in a diet?
10) If you believe that sodium is harmful, in what amounts?
11) What diseases are associated with excessive sodium consumption?

Thank you so much for your time!

Hi Blue22,
Did you try googling for some facts on sodium, or are you really researching the accuracy of information supplied by forums?
Just in case you are fair dinkum I have tried to find some info for you.

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/77/1/43


http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1PTsJg...ium+works+in+th

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium

http://health.howstuffworks.com/low-sodium-diet.htm

Most of the answers to your questions will be answered by these sites more accurately than I could.

Cheers

Thank you, I was looking to see if the information is confirmed. I wanted to make sure that multiple questions said the same things. I didn't want to walk in with two different points. Thank you very much for the links.

Hi Blue22,
Did you know that the ratio of Sodium/Potassium(Na/K) is one of the few vitamin/minerals that we have reversed from Paleolithic times, our ancestral hunter gatherers (HG) enjoyed much higher levels of all vitamin/minerals and protein than we do now but we reversed the Na/K ratio. HG had a ratio of 5:1 in favour of K, and because they ate primitive fruits/vegetables/tubers and no dairy or cereals their diet was more alkaline than ours, interesting isn't it?

Sorry I forgot a reference "Eaton" "ancestral human diet" - this will find the full paper.

Cheers

Hi Blue22

John offers great insight and suggested links, as always. I have included a few from HealthCastle.com

High Blood Pressure Diet: the DASH Diet at http://www.healthcastle.com/high-blood-pressure-diet.shtml

Low Sodium Diet: How to cut back on Sodium at http://www.healthcastle.com/low-sodium-diet.shtml

Nutrition 101: Sodium at http://www.healthcastle.com/nutrition101_sodium.shtml


Good luck with your English paper!
Tracey