Sodium (in salt) is added to most processed foods and occurs naturally in smaller quantities in many foods. For example, celery, beets, carrots and milk all contain sodium.

Excess sodium has been found to cause elevated blood pressure levels, especially in the 20% to 40% of the population with a family history of high blood pressure. As well, in the general population there are possible connections between high levels of sodium and changes in the level of stomach acid secretion, stomach cancer, migraine headaches and blood vessel disease in the heart and brain.

Sodium is a necessary nutrient and most people are not bothered by having a little salt in their diet. But, if you have a high score you should try not to add salt to your food at the table, or in cooking, unless it is absolutely necessary. Some foods to cut back, or eliminate, to help reduce sodium levels are bacon, salami, ham, cheese and most processed and prepared foods including typical fast food meals.

Also, if you have high blood pressure you may be sensitive to salt, although not everyone with high blood pressure is salt sensitive. If you have any heart or kidney problems you should avoid salt.

To help balance sodium levels, eat more foods rich in potassium: potatoes, peas, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, bananas, apricots, fresh leafy greens, cantaloupe, avocados, parsley, citrus fruits, crushed sunflower seeds, figs, peaches (especially dried) and turkey.

Healthy adrenal glands are essential for maintaining normal sodium levels, so I am including here some information on how you can keep your adrenals working well.

If your adrenal glands are undernourished you might have a high score on one or both of the "underactive" or "overactive" adrenals categories.

Undernourished adrenals make optimum health impossible to achieve. A well balanced diet is essential to adrenal health and potassium is one of the most important nutrients for the adrenal glands. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of potassium. Try to include more of the following in your diet: carrots, corn, avocado, potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, lima beans, spinach, apples, apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, peaches, plums, strawberries and sea vegetables (arame, bladder wrack, dulse, hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori, sea palm and wakame). Sea vegetables are such a good source of many minerals that I advise adding them to your diet right away. They can be chopped in the food processor or blender and sprinkled over food, or added to soup after it is cooked. Chicken and fish are also good sources. If you can add enough of these foods to your diet you shouldn't need a potassium supplement, other than a good multivitamin/mineral tablet. Keeping your salt intake low will also help avoid potassium deficiency. It's possible to put your system more out of balance by taking single-dose supplements.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) is also extremely important for the adrenals. It is in whole grains, lentils, beans, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, salmon, liver, tomatoes and peanuts. If you do not eat several servings of these foods daily, you should take a B complex tablet with at least 50mg of pantothenic acid. (All supplements must be taken with a meal.) You may want to take 500mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids and 200 I.U.'s vitamin E daily for several months (if your chart also shows deficiencies in those vitamins). If you have a high score, take an extra pantothenic acid supplement for three to four months, for a total of 500mg daily.

A green food powdered supplement that is dissolved in water or diluted juice would be an excellent supplement for you. It would give you a quick green boost (minerals) and, since it is a food-source supplement, it is easily absorbed. Wheat grass, barley grass, spirulina, chlorella and sometimes alfalfa are the main ingredients. They supply an extra boost of vegetable protein, minerals, a wide range of vitamins and chlorophyl (good for your liver). Wakunaga Kyo-Green would be a good one to try (it's not too expensive) but there are others available if you can't find it. Green superfoods are really good fatigue fighters, too -- and can help prevent food cravings when taken between meals.

Cut back on red meat, fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine and refined foods. Try to eat several small meals a day, rather than three larger meals.

Some foods that are particularly good for thyroid/adrenal health: seafood (especially cold water fish), sea vegetables like dulse, legumes such as black beans and lentils, yams, raw sesame and pumpkin seeds, brown rice, fresh figs and raisins. The sea vegetables are especially powerful -- very high in minerals, B vitamins and other nutrients.

Stress (especially anger) plays a large part in wearing down the adrenals and learning stress modification techniques is crucial in restoring their vitality. Moderate enjoyable exercise, such as walking, is very relaxing and beneficial for adrenal health. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and massage therapy can be very effective in rebalancing adrenal glands.

Since your adrenals are the body's first defense against any allergens it is common for allergies to accompany adrenal stress. Adrenals are also responsible for preventing blood sugar drops during periods of heavy stress. Therefore adrenal imbalances may also be accompanied by blood sugar disturbances.

If improved diet and relaxation techniques do not appear to alleviate your symptoms completely, you might consider a consultation with a holistic doctor. There are some very effective, safe herbal compounds which can help rebalance the adrenals, but they should be prescribed by a naturopath, a homeopath or another holistic doctor.

You will need a blood pressure monitor.

If your blood pressure is lower after you stand up, your adrenals may be functioning poorly.

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