If, then, sodium is so important to good health, how do we obtain it? How can we conserve it? Sodium, the body’s vital element, is derived from the sodium compounds in the diet. The richest source of sodium is the vegetable kingdom and the next best source is found in certain animal tissues, such as muscle and liver.
After the digestion of any meal, all of the blood from the intestines circulates through the liver, entering it by way of the large portal vein which flows directly into it. The useful elements from the digested food are taken to the liver which (1) synthesizes new body tissues, (2) prepares fuel for oxidation and energy and (3) stores excess nourishment for future use.