What are the sources of sodium? What if there is an overdose or lack of sodium? What are the deficiency symptoms and consequences? How is sodium useful to a plant? Thank you.

Sodium is an electrolyte which are molecules that help the body maintain the proper amount of water in it. Too much or too little sodium would result in dehydration. Sports drinks advertise containing electrolytes because the body loses them through sweating. However, they usually contain too much electrolytes and less water which dehydrates more than they hydrate. The sports drinks that the football players drink are a lot more watered down than what they sell in the stores because the ones you can buy taste better.

Also excessive amounts of sodium is related to high blood pressure, correct?

don't you people mean sodium chloride?

Last time I checked: Sodium + Moisture = BOOM

You're pretty much on the target there flower dude.

no he did NOT just mean sodium chloride, that`s just ONE of many possible sources of sodium ions, and no, he wasn`t talking about sodium Metal either!

Hello!

Sodium deficiency is called hyponatremia. A shortage will upset the electrolyte balance in the body - have you studied osmoregulation in the kidneys?

In plants, too much sodium displaces potassium and a shortage of potassium leads to browning and yellowing of leaf tips. Fruit and vegetables are the worst affected by an excess of sodium chloride/potassium deficiency. Sodium in the form of sodium chloride is used for osmoregulation in plants. Have you ever studied the transport of water up xylem vessels? Ions are actively transported into xylem vessels which lowers the water potential of the solution in the vessel, therefore drawing in more water so that the pressure forces water up the stem.

Hope this helps!

 

Georgina

Hyponatremia is pretty uncommon, and is usually caused by excessive water intake. High sodium intake causes the kidneys to excrete less water, which over time causes hypertension. It is difficult to reduce the amount of sodium in the diet because so much of it is used in processed foods, hence diuretics ("water tablets") are used to increase excretion of sodium.