The constantly-debated question: How much salt do you actually need to be healthy? On one hand, your body needs the nutrients in salt to survive — particularly sodium. "Sodium is the most important extracellular electrolyte," Dr. Paul Whelton, a professor of global public health at Tulane University, told Live Science. "It plays a role in many, many health functions."
Electrolytes are tiny substances that dissolve in water to create positively- and negatively-charged ions that conduct electricity. A proper balance of these charges inside and outside of your cells is crucial to regulating many bodily functions, including hydration, blood pressure, and proper functioning of nerves and muscles.
