I work with a lot of people who need to monitor their sodium intake. Many of them mistake salt for sodium and think salt is evil. Salt is about 40% sodium. Healthy individuals need about 2400 milligrams of sodium for a well balanced diet. Our bodies need sodium for a variety of reasons. People with risk factors have to monitor their sodium intake but it doesn't mean they have to go without taste... a little salt can go a long, and for those who need extra flavoring try to give your foods some Mexican zing with chili powder, cilantro, cumin and garlic. Dishes get an Asian accent with garlic, ginger and red (cayenne) pepper; partake in foods Italian-style with basil, garlic, parsley and oregano.

I think I am one of those people who thought sodium and salt were the same thing. I am surprised to find out they're not!

I read that salt is made up of two major components: Chloride and sodium ions.

Where does iodine fit into all of this ?

Iodized salt - table salt with iodine added - is the main food source of iodine.

Seafood is naturally rich in iodine. Cod, sea bass, haddock, and perch are good sources.

Kelp is the most common vegetable seafood that is a rich source of iodine.

Dairy products also contain iodine. Other good sources are plants grown in iodine-rich soil.

Iodine is needed for the normal metabolism of cells. Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy. Humans need iodine for normal thyroid function, and for the production of thyroid hormones.

Lack of enough iodine (deficiency) may occur in places that have iodine-poor soil. Many months of iodine deficiency in a person's diet may cause goiter or hypothyroidism. Without enough iodine, the thyroid cells and the thyroid gland become enlarged.

Deficiency happens more often in women than in men, and is more common in pregnant women and older children. Getting enough iodine in the diet may prevent a form of physical and mental retardation called cretinism. Cretinism is very rare in the U.S. because iodine deficiency is generally not a problem.

Iodine poisoning is rare in the U.S. Very high intake of iodine can reduce the function of the thyroid gland.

A 1/4 teaspoon of iodized table salt provides 95 micrograms of iodine. A 6 ounce portion of ocean fish provides 650 micrograms of iodine. Most people are able to meet the daily recommendations by eating seafood, iodized salt, and plants grown in iodine-rich soil. When buying salt make sure it is labeled "iodized."

Source - www.nlm.nih.gov

According to a book I own (The Official British Army Fitness Guide- bought not because I intend to join the Army, but because it has a very good program with which to ease me into running!), you can work out the salt content in a food by multiplying the value given on the food's label by 2.5. For example, if sodium is listed as 0.2g per serving, the actual salt content is 0.2x2.5=0.5g.

According to the percentages of sodium in salt in an earlier post, this sounds about right to me.

What's the US govt. recommendation for salt intake? It's 6g a day here.

Wow, really? 6 grams per day doesn't sound like very much.

6g, that's it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3650578.stm That's quite old, but it's still true- I checked.

I've always thought it seems very low myself, but there you go.