He has written for Foreign Policy,The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, Politico and a host of other publications. The Interpreter Joins RFE/RL. We are proud to announce that, starting January 1, 2016, The Interpreter will be a special project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
1 Sodium plays a large role in fluid balance, with different variations of sodium determining the shift of water by osmosis from one area of the body to another.  Along with chloride and bicarbonate, sodium is important for the proper regulation of the acid-base balance of the body.
Sodium is one of the most important minerals in the body. The kidneys use sodium to maintain the proper balance of water and electrolytesâchemical substances such as sodium and potassiumâand sodium is critical for water retention. But this very characteristic can cause problems with blood pressure.