Why Your Blood Needs Chloride

Why Your Blood Needs Chloride (Find Out Here)

Chloride is a mineral that regulates blood pressure, and maintains the body’s fluid balance.

Chloride is found in the blood, where it helps to maintain a healthy blood pH level, fights off infections and provides other important benefits.

In this article, we will talk about why chloride is so important for our blood and how it’s deficiency can affect our health.

We will also look at the different sources of chloride and dietary recommendations to ensure adequate intake of this essential nutrient.

So let’s dive in and learn more about why your blood needs chloride.

What is chloride and what does it do?

Chloride is a type of electrolyte that is present in your blood, along with other electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate.

Electrolytes such as chloride play a positive role in maintaining the balance of fluids in your body and supporting various bodily functions.

Chloride has several functions in the body, including:

• Acid-base balance
• Production of stomach acid
• Maintaining fluid balance
• Fighting off infections
• Transmits nerve impulses
• Protein synthesis

Is chloride good for your blood?

Yes. Chloride exist in nature
as sodium (NaCl) and potassium (KCl) salts. Chloride has beneficial effects on our health, including fluid balance, digestion, blood pressure, and kidney function.

Here the reasons why your blood needs chloride salt.

Digestion

Chloride produces stomach acid, also known as hydrochloric, which is crucial for breaking down food and prevents the growth of microbes in the stomach.

Blood pH balance

Chloride ions work together with bicarbonate ions to neutralize acids and alkaline substances in the body, which helps to maintain a healthy pH balance.

Kidney stones

Increased dietary chloride salt has been found to increase urinary calcium excretion, which develops into calcium stones in the kidneys.

However, study results have been mixed: while one study found a lower risk of kidney stones in
people restricting their salt intake, a similar study did not find the relationship between sodium chloride intake and the development of kidney stones.

High blood pressure

A large population study concluded that increased intake of chloride salt elevates high blood pressure.

Two additional large studies showed that a modest reduction in chloride salt intake by about 1.0 g per day resulted in better control of elevated blood pressure in older adults who initially were on blood pressure medication.

In overweight participants who did not have hypertension, a low salt intake reduced the onset of hypertension.

What foods provides chloride?

Salt is our biggest source of both sodium and chloride. Foods that contains chloride salt are:

• Canned chicken noodle soup
• Canned macaroni
• Cheese
• Salted potato chips
• Salted tilapia fish
• Pretzels
• Ham
• Corned beef

How much chloride do you need in your blood?

The amounts of chloride you need depends on your age, gender and other factors.

Here are the average daily recommended amounts listed below in milligrams (mg).

• Infants 0-6 months: 180 mg
• Infants 6-12 months: 570 mg
• Children 1-3 years: 1,500 mg
• Children 4-8 years: 1,900 mg
• Children 9-13 years: 2,300 mg
• Adolescents 14-18 years: 2,300 mg
• Adults 19-50 years: 2,300 mg
• Adults 51-70 years: 2,000 mg
• Adults 70+ years: 1,800 mg

Chloride deficiency symptoms

Chloride deficiency does not generally result from inadequate dietary intake, even in those people on very low-salt diets.

Symptoms of low blood chloride concentrations include:

• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue
• Disorientation
• Fainting

Complications of severe and rapidly developing chloride deficiency may include swelling of the brain, seizures, and brain damage.

Is chloride harmful to the blood?

High amounts of chloride salt in the blood can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Serious cases results in swelling, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and breathing problems.

In addition, when your blood has too much chloride this condition is known as hyperchloremia.

Takeaway

Chloride is important for blood pH balance, production of stomach acid, regulating fluid balance, fighting infections, transmitting nerve impulses, and making protein.

Sufficient intakes of chloride helps the digestive system to produce stomach acid that breaks down food substances, prevents kidney stones, balances acid-base pH and regulates blood pressure in the body.

You should eat foods containing enough chloride to help the body perform it’s necessary functions.

Don’t forget to follow the daily recommended intake to prevent any serious health problems.