Low sodium cleanse on the rise (5)
I believe the answer is:
nadir
'low' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sodium cleanse on the rise' is the wordplay.
'sodium' becomes 'NA' (chemical symbol).
'cleanse' becomes 'rid' (I've seen this in another clue).
'on the rise' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'rid' reversed gives 'dir'.
'na'+'dir'='NADIR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nadir that I've seen before include "Point opposite the zenith" , "Rock bottom" , "pits" , "Low point" , "You can't sink lower!" .)