Chloride – Why This Mineral Is Important For Our Bodies

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What Does The Body Need Chloride For?

Chlorides come from the chemical element chlorine. They are important electrolytes that occur together with sodium as sodium chloride in table salt and therefore in almost all foods.In cooperation with potassium, your body needs sodium chloride for numerous vital functions such as regulating the water balance and as a component of gastric acid for lowering the pH value in the stomach.This ensures the activation of pepsin, which is needed for the digestion of proteins in the stomach. Stomach acid also kills germs and other pathogens contained in food.

Which Foods Contain Chloride?

As sodium chloride, chloride is an ingredient in normal table salt or table salt and is therefore found in numerous foods, so that you can cover your daily requirement through food.For example, cheese, cured meat, fish and baked goods are rich in chloride.

Finished products such as canned or packet soups, fix products or instant broths also contain large amounts of chloride due to the addition of table salt.Make sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet by eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables.

How Much Is The Daily Requirement?

A healthy adult needs at least 2,300 mg of chloride daily. The daily requirement is slightly higher during pregnancy and breastfeeding.People whose jobs require heavy physical work and athletes who lose a lot of fluid through sweating also have a higher daily requirement for chloride. This can be covered, for example, with mineral-rich drinks.

What Happens If There Is A Chloride Deficiency?

The body normally absorbs enough chloride through food, so healthy people rarely experience a deficiency.However, some people experience chloride deficiency. This happens when there is a lot of fluid loss. The trigger is, for example, an infection in the gastrointestinal tract if symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea occur.

In addition, people who sweat profusely often lose too much fluid, so chloride deficiency can also occur in these cases. Abuse of laxatives, bulimia or not drinking enough fluids also lead to the body not being supplied with enough chloride.The consequences are headaches, muscle cramps and cardiovascular problems. In addition, a chloride deficiency can have a negative effect on bone growth.

For this reason, you should always drink enough. If you have a gastrointestinal infection that is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting, it is advisable to drink not only water but also salted liquids such as broth or isotonic drinks to supply your body with electrolytes.

Is There A Chloride Overdose?

Like chloride deficiency, chloride overdose can also occur. This is caused by a diet that is too salty. This can lead to high blood pressure with the well-known risks such as heart attack and stroke as well as vascular calcification.If you have any deficiency symptoms or suspect an overdose, you should definitely consult your doctor.