In America, consumption of sodium is high, with the average American eating 3,400 mg of sodium per day, with the daily recommendation being less than 2,300 mg per day. Although there is a stigma surrounding sodium, it’s necessary to perform basic body functions like contracting and relaxing muscles and conducting nerve impulses.
Salt is one of the 3 major electrolytes, the essential minerals for the body. It helps with muscle contractions by regulating blood pressure and regulates acid balance of bodily fluids. SFGate’s Healthy Eating stated that salt can help with muscle contractions and function during physical activities. Rush University Medical Center also states that sodium can also regulate body heat. The hypothalamus signals the middle layer of the skin whenever it is overheating, to sweat. Hence, bringing out salt and water to cool down the body.
An excessive amount of salt can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the chances of serious health problems like heart attack or stroke. People with kidney disease are especially vulnerable to serious health conditions if they consume too much sodium, as kidneys may not be able to eliminate the surplus sodium. Too much salt can also develop kidney stones.
The basic principle of economics builds upon the concept of supply and demand with the goal of maximizing utility. When demand exceeds supply, a shortage is created. Thus, to maximize profits, manufacturers increase the price of the goods. Vice versa, if supply exceeds demand, a surplus is created, and price will decrease so that the market achieves equilibrium. This can be seen in the fact that in 2020, Turkey prices fell to its lowest since 2010. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the temporary shift away from large family gatherings, the volume of Thanksgiving dinners momentarily shrank, causing supply to exceed demand and Turkey prices to fall. A profit-maximizing Turkey-selling company would then decrease it's volume of Turkey production to offset the previous year's surplus. This interaction is seen in the fact that the total quantity of Turkey is 6% less than that of last year. Thus, with the rising costs of production and the apparent shortage in supply, it is inevitable that Turkey prices soar.
In most factors of life, an excess of something is always terrible. It’s the same thing with sodium. In order to prevent the adverse effects of salt overconsumption, it is important to monitor the amount of salt consumed.