Question

Why Sodium is bad for you?

Answer 1

Sodium can be used in a variety of ways in food, including curing meat, baking, thickening, retaining moisture, enhancing flavour (including the flavour of other ingredients), and as a preservative. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium nitrite, and sodium benzoate are examples of common food additives that contain sodium and contribute (in smaller amounts) to the total amount of sodium listed on the Nutrition Facts label.

Complete answer:
A small amount of sodium is required for your body to function properly, but too much sodium can be harmful to your health. High sodium diets have been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of stroke and heart disease.
Since sodium attracts water, a high-sodium diet can cause water to enter the bloodstream, increasing blood volume, and, as a result, blood pressure. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a condition in which blood pressure remains elevated over time. Hypertension causes the heart to work too hard, and the blood flow's high force can damage arteries and organs (such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes). High blood pressure that isn't under control can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, kidney disease, and blindness. Furthermore, because blood pressure tends to rise with age, limiting sodium intake becomes increasingly important with each passing year.
Despite popular belief, the majority of dietary sodium (more than 70%) comes from packaged and prepared foods, not from table salt added to food during cooking or eating.

Note:
Although the terms "table salt" and "sodium" are frequently used interchangeably, they do not have the same meaning. Table salt (also known as sodium chloride in its chemical form) is a crystal-like compound found in abundance in nature. Sodium is a mineral that is found in salt as one of the chemical elements.