For people concerned about their health, sodium is like a 'public enemy.' This is because they often hear advice to reduce sodium intake to prevent high blood pressure. As a result, some people practice eating bland food unconditionally. However, if they only follow a low-sodium diet without considering their own physical condition, it can actually harm their health.

Sodium helps eliminate waste products and regulate fluid levels in the body. A certain amount of sodium is essential for the body. For a person weighing 60kg, the total sodium in the body should be between 70 and 80 grams.

If the sodium concentration is lower than this, various problems such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and lethargy can occur. An example is people who feel dizzy or become exhausted after sweating excessively. This is a problem caused by a rapid drop in the body's sodium levels due to sweating.

Especially for people with poor heart health, excessive low-sodium diets can be harmful. When sodium intake drops sharply, fluid balance is poorly regulated, leading to a decrease in blood volume. If the heart's contraction ability is compromised and blood volume also decreases, blood cannot be efficiently supplied throughout the body, which can lead to serious health conditions.

There is a study by the McMaster University research team in Canada indicating that the higher the actual sodium excretion outside the body, the higher the incidence rates of myocardial infarction and stroke in heart disease patients. According to the study, heart disease patients who excrete more than 8 grams of sodium per day have incidence rates of 6.8% for myocardial infarction and 6.6% for stroke, which are higher than those who excrete less than 2 grams (5.1%, 4.9%).

Of course, the statement that moderate sodium intake is necessary should not be misunderstood as "it's okay to eat salty foods like now." It is true that Koreans need to slightly reduce their sodium intake. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily sodium intake of 2000mg. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 'National Health Statistics,' as of 2021, the average sodium intake for Koreans was about 3080mg, approximately 1000mg higher than the recommended amount.