When most people think of sodium, they think of salt. In this episode of Let's Talk About Kidneys, Dallas Nephrology Associates' Senior Clinical Dietitian Carolyn Cochran breaks down what sodium is, how to identify it in common foods and ways to make lifestyle adjustments for healthier kidneys.

What is sodium?

Sodium is one of three important electrolytes found in the body. Electrolytes control the fluids going in and out of your body's tissues and cells.

"Sodium is essential for life," Carolyn says. "It's in animals, vegetables, minerals and is important for muscle function, nerve function, and for fluid balance."

Many types of salt are used to season food. A survey conducted by the American Heart Association found that more than 60 percent of respondents thought that sea salt was healthier than table salt. But whether you're using kosher salt, table salt or Himalayan black salt, Carolyn says all salts are equal.

"The bottom line is that they all contain sodium and the amount of sodium is comparable," says Carolyn.

Sodium and your kidneys

Sodium is an essential nutrient in your body. One of the jobs of the kidneys is to keep sodium in balance, Carolyn says. If sodium is out of balance, your body's fluid balance is also affected. This can affect muscle and nerve function.

How does sodium affect blood pressure?

Many people have a sensitivity to salt, which can be exhibited in high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. High blood pressure is the number two cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), second only to diabetes.

What is a low-sodium diet?

In the U.S., 2,300 milligrams is considered a healthy target. Carolyn says that the average U.S. citizen will consume 3,500 to more than 5,000 milligrams of sodium per day, especially when dining out. A low-sodium diet is about 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams.

Only a small percentage of the population who experience excessive sweat loss due to exercise–such as athletes–need more sodium. But Carolyn says most people could benefit from a low-sodium diet.

Tracking your sodium intake For people who want to track their sodium intake, Carolyn recommends starting with a base of about 500 milligrams to leave room for the sodium that naturally occurs in foods. Hidden sodium

A teaspoon of salt has 2,000 milligrams of sodium, but sodium isn't just found in a salt shaker. Many foods have "hidden" sodium.

"Sodium grows out of the ground. Sodium is in animals. It is just everywhere," Carolyn says. "So you've got to give credit to those first 500, maybe even 600 milligrams of sodium, and then you can start counting (your sodium intake)."

Reading labels

Getting into the habit of reading labels is important for anyone who needs to track their sodium intake. At the top of the label, the serving size can be found. The size of the portions are determined by the manufacturer. The sodium content is found near the middle of the label and is measured in milligrams.

To the right of the sodium is a percentage of the recommended amount of sodium in a diet, but Carolyn says to remember that this number might not be the percentage that you are aiming for if you're on a low-sodium diet.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

If you need help managing your sodium intake, Carolyn suggests talking to your doctor about Medical Nutrition Therapy. Dallas Nephrology Associates has registered dietitian nutritionists who are experienced in helping patients who have renal disease.

"We realize that every person is complex and that many things need to be taken into account," Carolyn says.