Nutrition Diagnostics Canning & Pickling Salt provides two elements that are essential for life and for good health: sodium and chloride. The body cannot manufacture either element itself, so they must be supplied by food.

Sodium plays a critical role in body physiology. It controls the volume of fluid in the body and helps maintain the acid-base level. Sodium is an electrolyte, like potassium, calcium and magnesium; it regulates the electrical charges moving in and out of cells in the body. Sodium is important in proper nerve conduction, in aiding the passage of various nutrients into cells, and in the maintenance of blood pressure. Sodium-dependent enzymes are required for carbohydrate digestion.

Chloride ions also help maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure, and pH of body fluids. Chloride is the major extracellular anion and contributes to many body functions including the maintenance of blood pressure, acid-base balance, muscular activity, and the movement of water between fluid compartments. Chloride is the major component of hydrochloric acid, which is needed for protein digestion.

Symptoms of low hydrochloric acid may include bloating, acne, iron deficiency, belching, indigestion, diarrhea and multiple food allergies. Chloride is available in very few foods, and adequate chloride can be obtained from salt.