nutrition-mineral balance

Question
Way back I read that the intake of sodium and potassium needed to be balanced. This was in the 1950s. Is there any current basis for this in present day nutritional info ?

Answer
You do need both sodium and potassium in your diet and they need to be at both of their own proper levels.  Sodium and potassium along with chloride are known as electrolytes. They get this name because they transmit electrical current in the body to transmit nerve impulses.  They send messages from your brain to your muscles, causing them to relax or contract.  They also control the fluid balance in and out of cells.  
As far as sodium you should stay below 2,400 mg daily and the minimum amount suggested for potassium is 2,000 mg though most experts suggest more at 3,500 mg per day.
Both sodium and potassium are very abundant in our food source so for most people not getting enough is not a problem.
Thanks,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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