Chloride
Basic Information about Chloride
Chloride is an ion of the element chlorine. The Chloride ion is formed when chlorine picks up a negatively-charged ion of chlorine. Chloride is part of sodium chloride or table salt. Chloride can be found in many places in nature. Chloride is a necessary element for humans. Chloride is a chemical the body uses to help turn food into energy.
Chloride makes up almost fifteen hundredths of a percent of a person’s body weight. There is around one hundred and fifteen grams, in an average adult that contributes to a person’s weight. Chloride can be found beside sodium in the fluid surrounding the cells. Only a small percent of chloride is actually located inside the cells. Chloride can be found in large amounts in the red blood cells. Chloride is absorbed by the intestines and removed by the kidneys.
Sources of Chloride
Chloride can found in any food where salt has been added. Most times salt is added during cooking or when the food is processed. Many foods contain large amounts of chloride. Chloride can be found in table salt and sea salt as sodium chloride, salt substitutes, seaweed, olives, rye, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, ham, sausage, and foods that have been processed or canned. Chloride can be found in a combination with other elements: sodium, calcium, and potassium. Because chloride is found in many foods, there is no recommended daily allowance; however, it is generally accepted that seven hundred and fifty mg per / day is enough for a person to function and be healthy.
Sodium chloride, more commonly known as table salt, is one of the main sources of chloride. Sodium chloride is a compound of the two elements sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Salt is used in many of the processed foods. High salt consumption can raise a person’s blood pressure. Sodium chloride is essential for the body to function, but getting too much salt can be bad for a person’s health. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends the adequate intake of sodium chloride for adults age nineteen and older to be one thousand five hundred mg per / day. In the body, sodium works with chloride to keep the levels of fluids balanced in the body. Chloride is an essential part of breaking down foods in our stomach.
Health Benefits of Chloride
Chloride is an electrolyte. Electrolytes are commonly found in sports drinks. Drinking fluids containing electrolytes can help refill the electrolytes and water in the body that is caused by dehydration. Chloride works together with potassium and sodium to make sure there is a balance of fluids in the body and to keep the pH, acid or base levels of your body fluids, balanced. Chloride is very important and essential for the proper digestion of food in the stomach. When chloride combines with hydrogen, stomach hydrochloric acid is formed. Chloride also keeps the fluids that are in our cells and around our cells balanced so there isn’t more fluid in the cells or around the cells. Chloride also helps our blood pressure stay the same. Having high blood pressure can be an indicator that things are wrong. High blood pressure, hypertension, can be a risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, and even heart failure. Low blood pressure, hypotension, usually happens when a person goes into shock. Causes of low blood pressure can range from normal hormone changes to heart problems. Even though medical professionals stress to have low blood pressure, having too low of blood pressure can be a sign that our bodies don’t have enough or may have too much chloride.
Deficiencies of chloride usually happen when a person has been sweating or has been vomiting. Chloride can be restored easily by eating something that contains chloride as an electrolyte or foods containing sodium chloride. Toxicity of chloride is rare because any extra chloride is removed through the urine. There are chloride tests that can measure the amount of chloride in the blood or urine. These tests can be done if a person is having symptoms of chloride deficiency. These symptoms include twitching, breathing problems, weakness, or confusion. The tests can also be done to see if a person has a kidney or adrenal gland problem.
How to Get Enough Chloride in a Healthy Diet
In 1902, a study was done about muscles immersed into a sugar solution. It was assumed that sodium chloride was not present in the muscle, but in the spaces between the fibers. The researchers began to think that if there would be no traces of chloride in the muscle because of the large amounts of protein, phosphate, and lactic acid to keep the bases neutralized. Not all researchers wanted to think that all muscles cells were completely empty of chloride. After further study, the researchers found that some of the chloride that had been diffused out of the muscle must have originally resided in the muscle fibers.
It is now known that chloride does reside in and around all cells, including muscle cells. Chloride does help with the pH balance of fluids in these cells. When a person is exercising, lactic acid will build up in the muscle, which causes the muscles to be sore. Chloride will go between the cells and the space outside the cell to help balance the acid and base levels.
There are different ways of getting enough chloride in your diet. One, a person can eat foods that contain salt. Two, use a whey protein isolate supplement. Whey protein isolates are used to help create lean muscle. Lean muscles burn more calories when a person is considered resting. Resting is when a person is sitting and not exercising or sleeping. Chloride has been added to whey isolate protein because of its effect on the cells in the body.
Whey protein is naturally found in milk. There is more pure protein in whey protein than other protein concentrations. Whey protein comes from the process of turning milk into cheese. During this process, the whey is separated from the other ingredients. Taking whey isolate protein after you exercise can help you to create lean muscle. The added chloride helps to keep the acid and base balance in the muscle cells in check.
