Although sodium is essential for the body functions, too much sodium can be harmful for our body. The research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are linked with bigger rate of decline in kidney function.

Sodium is a mineral that is present in our foods, usually through the salt because we use salt to enhance flavor. So our body receives sodium primarily in the form of table salt.

As you know, sodium can helps our body to retain a healthy fluid balance. Sodium helps to keep calcium and other minerals soluble in our blood, as well as stimulating the adrenal glands.

What if too much sodium?
Read the following article which I took from health.msn.com

"There are currently limited data on the role of diet in kidney disease," researcher Dr. Julie Lin, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said in a news release. "While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function."

The first study looked at diet and kidney function decline in more than 3,000 women enrolled in the national Nurses' Health Study. The researchers found that "in women with well-preserved kidney function, higher dietary sodium intake was associated with greater kidney function decline, which is consistent with experimental animal data that high sodium intake promotes progressive kidney disease."

The second study looked at the association between sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline in the same group of women. The researchers found an association between two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda and a two-fold increased risk of faster kidney function decline. There was no connection between sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline.

The association between artificially sweetened beverages and kidney function decline persisted after Lin and colleague Dr. Gary Curhan accounted for other factors, such as age, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, caloric intake and cardiovascular disease.

Although further research is still needed, I think we have to anticipate. Cut back on your sodium intake gradually.

While you don’t want to take too much sodium, you should not take too little sodium either. Moderation is the Key.