08/11/2025
Every thought, heartbeat, and muscle squeeze runs on sodium.
Salt is not the villain...
Every thought, heartbeat, and muscle squeeze runs on sodium.
Salt is not the villain. Most excess sodium comes from packaged and restaurant foods, not the small pinch you add at home.
The right kind of salt, in the right amount, helps nerves fire, muscles contract, and fluids stay balanced so you feel and perform better.
What salt does for you:
- Powers nerve signals and muscle contraction
- Helps your body hold the right amount of water
- Supports stomach acid for protein digestion
- Works with potassium to regulate fluid balance and energy
Smart choices at home:
- If seafood and dairy are low in your diet, use iodized salt to cover iodine for healthy thyroid function
- Rotate unrefined salts like Himalayan, Celtic, or sea salt for trace minerals such as magnesium and potassium
- Match the grind to the job: coarse for brining and grilling, fine for baking and daily use, flaky for finishing
- Read labels. Bread, sauces, deli meats, and canned soups often carry the biggest hidden sodium loads
- Train or sweat a lot? Replace both water and sodium to maintain performance. Plain water alone can fall short in long or hot sessions
Choose better salts in the kitchen, cut hidden sodium in processed foods, and follow your clinician’s guidance if you are salt sensitive.
Which salt lives next to your stove right now? Why did you choose it?
PMID: 17277604
https://www.cdc.gov/salt/about/index.html
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/