The Missing Minerals and Where to Find Them - Sodium "The Youth Element"

Sodium - The Youth Element

According to Dr. Bernard Jensen, Sodium is the “Youth Element,” as it promotes “youthful, limber, flexible & pliable joints.”

Sodium - isn’t it just salt?

Sodium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining ALL bodily functions. Table Salt, however, is “not compatible with the human body.”

From here on out, we will refer to the incompatible sodium as “Salt” and organic or “living” sodium as “Sodium.”

If you are having a hard time understanding the difference between Salt and Sodium , you are not alone!  Click here for more on this.

Here are some of the ways Sodium helps the body function:

1. Fluid balance: Sodium plays a pivotal role in regulating the balance of fluids in and around cells. It helps maintain proper hydration and blood volume.

2. Blood pressure regulation: Sodium helps control blood pressure by regulating the amount of water in your blood vessels. However, when “Salt” levels are too high, it can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

3. Nerve function: Sodium is essential for the transmission of nerve impulses. It helps generate electrical signals that allow neurons to communicate with one another and with muscles.

4. Muscle function: Sodium is required for muscle contractions. It works in concert with potassium to ensure proper muscle function, including the contraction and relaxation of skeletal and cardiac muscles.

5. Acid-alkaline balance: Sodium is a powerful alkalizing mineral which helps maintain the body's acid-alkaline balance.

6. Nutrient absorption: Sodium is involved in the transport of all essential nutrients into every one of the trillions of cells in the human body.

7. Kidney function: The kidneys play a crucial role in regulating sodium levels in the body by reabsorbing or excreting it as needed to maintain balance. Sodium helps flush the kidneys whereas Salt can cause congestion leading to high blood pressure and many other health problems.

8. *Osmotic pressure: Sodium contributes to the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids, which helps ensure that the right amount of water is retained in the body's cells.     *Osmotic Pressure is the pressure needed to transport fluids in & out of ALL cells.

9. Electrolyte balance: Sodium, in conjunction with other electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and chloride, helps maintain the body's overall electrolyte balance, which is essential for ALL physiological processes.

10. Heart function: Sodium is critical for the normal functioning of the heart. It helps initiate and propagate electrical signals in cardiac muscle cells, regulating the heartbeat. However, Salt in its inorganic form, can be very damaging to the heart.

Signs of Sodium Deficiency

While sodium is essential for various bodily functions, excessive Salt intake can lead to health issues, such as hypertension. On the other hand, a deficiency in Sodium can also cause problems. Signs of Sodium deficiency, known as hyponatremia, may include:

1. Muscle cramps or weakness

2. Nausea and vomiting

3. Headache

4. Extreme craving for Salt, which can only be satisfied in the long term by living organic sodium sources.

5. Confusion or irritability

6. Seizures

7. Swelling (edema), particularly in the ankles and feet

8. Low blood pressure

9. Increased heart rate

10. Cognitive disturbances, such as difficulty concentrating or memory problems

11. Fatigue and lethargy

It is easy to have too high a Salt intake, but it is imperative to maintain a good intake of healthy organic living Sodium to create and support a vibrant healthy body.

In many cases, a well-balanced diet high in fresh fruits & vegetables, provides an adequate amount of sodium for the body's needs.

Individuals with specific medical conditions or those on restrictive diets should consult with a knowledgeable healthcare professional to ensure they are meeting their organic living Sodium requirements.

Photosynthesis transmutes the rock form of sodium in soil to living form of sodium in the plant – therefore, the higher natural sodium content in soil, the higher content in the plant. This is why some of our highest Sodium foods come from the ocean.

HIGHEST SODIUM FOODS

Celery-Garlic Soup with Miso (recipe below) and powdered whey (goat milk whey is best) are highly concentrated sources of sodium. Goat milk or whey and black mission figs are a superior sodium combination (and this is also a great arthritis remedy).

Here are some other foods that are naturally high in living sodium.

+ Miso is a superfood made from fermented soybeans, grains such as rice or barley, and crude unrefined salt. It is available in health food stores and online natural foods sites.

These LIVING RADIANCE products are high in Food-form sodium and easy to absorb into the system:

Chlorella & Dulse with fennel- Chlorella (algae-a single cell plant that grows in water – most often in oceans) & Dulse (edible seaweed that grows in colder parts of ocean – ours is from coast of Nova Scotia).

ThyroTone – The first 2 ingredient in ThyroTone are seaweeds - good option if your thyroid needs support also.

All our seasonal formulas have seaweed in them which is a naturally high sodium food – from our salty oceans.

CELERY-GARLIC SOUP with MISO

1-quart purified water, or organic vegetable broth

4 medium stalks organic celery, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 rounded teaspoon miso per bowl or cup of soup, added after cooking

Combine all ingredients except miso and slow-simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, covered.

When serving soup:

• Add a rounded teaspoon of miso in each cup or bowl and stir until dissolved; or
• Puree the soup and miso in a blender and drink as a broth.

**Recipe & quotes from Dr. Bernard Jensen’s book “The Chemistry of Man”. 

For more dietary information based on our body’s design, see “I'm a Human - How Should I Eat?” by Jim Williams