Sodium (Na)
Acid/Alkaline: Alkaline-forming
Food sources: All fruits and vegetables, especially dark green leafy ones,
carrots, celery, watermelon, strawberries, apples, huckleberries,
gooseberries, cauliflower, asparagus, salt (all types), cucumbers,
beets, okra, pumpkin, string beans, kelp/dulse.
Toxic sources: Most processed foods, water supplies.
Note: Diuretic drugs are the chief offenders in throwing off excess
sodium from the body. Excessive sweating can reduce sodium in the
body to low levels. Also, low sodium may be indicative of reduced
adrenal cortex function. Sodium has a strong affinity for Oxygen.
Uses in the body: An essential body electrolyte. A principle cation
(positively charged ion) for intra- (inter) cellular activities and
homeostasis. Plays a major role in the osmotic pressure of a cell, thus
affecting water and nutritional utilization by cells. Involved in
muscular contraction. Plays a role in carbohydrate and protein
metabolism; plays a role in glucose catabolism (breakdown) and
glycogen formation (glucose storage); plays a role in neuro-
(electrical) transmission through the nervous system (affecting
conductivity of a cell); and plays a role in normal heart rhythms.
Deficiency: Sodium deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness and
muscle shrinkage, twitching, fatigue, poor concentration, memory
loss, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, arthritis, nerve pain, digestive
distress, poor adrenal function, and weight loss. These are usually a
result of starvation or severe fasting, vomiting, dry skin, allergies,