Our bodies need a certain amount of sodium to function, but too much can be harmful. When you drink salt water, it may put you over the recommended daily allowance of 2,000 mg.
Contrary to what people believe, if you drink a saltwater solution that is made up of 100 percent all-natural salt it can be healthy. Many processed foods are very high in sodium, leading Americans to take in almost 10,000 mg of salt daily. The issue here is that refined salt on your table and in processed foods is different and can be bad for your health. When using salt as a supplement, it is always best to choose a natural salt.
What Happens When You Drink Salt Water?
Our bodies do need salt, but much less than we are actually eating. Your body is made up of less than 9 ounces of salt in all the tissues, which is contained in your sweat, tears, urine, and blood.
1. Rehydrates the Body
When you drink salt water, especially if you are dehydrated, the salt helps to move the fluids into your body and replenish it quickly. This is the science behind popular sports drinks. This happens by a process known as diffusion. When you have a high level of sodium outside the cells in your body, it pushes the water into the cell. When you are low on sodium/salt, the water in the cells moves out of the body. This can cause your blood pressure to drop, making you feel very faint and dizzy.
2. Reduces Inflammation
When your sodium levels are too low, the body puts out chemicals that increase inflammation in the body. This is because the body needs to compensate for lower blood pressure. The chemicals sent out raise the blood pressure, which can damage the cardiovascular system.
3. Replenishes Mineral Deficiencies
If you have a mineral deficiency, you put your body at risk for lower immune system and illness. Using natural sea salts helps to replenish more minerals that you need for good health than regular table salt. What happens when you drink salt water made with natural salt is your body gets a full range of needed nutrients.
4. Aids Digestion
It can help stimulate your salivary glands and get the digestive process moving before you even eat your first bite of food. Using a natural type of salt will help stimulate the production of acids in the stomach and increase absorption in your intestines. Some people even state it helps with constipation because it draws water into the bowels and stimulates intestinal wall contractions.
5. Promotes Healthy Bones
In order for bones to properly turn over (take in calcium and release calcium into your blood) you need healthy sodium and mineral levels. Salt can neutralize acidic conditions in the body for proper mineral absorption.
6. Clears Skin
The minerals in natural salt help to keep skin smooth and may even help ward off acne. The iodine in salt helps your skin take in more oxygen and gives it a healthy glow. Salt water can also help heal your skin if you have wounds. If you use a type of salt that has high sulfur content it can help with things like eczema, dry scalp, and skin rashes.
7. Cleans Out Toxins
What happens when you drink salt water is that it attracts toxins and carries them out of the body. It can also help kill bacterial growth as a natural antibacterial substance.
8. Improves Sleep
Using natural salt in water may help you sleep better because it contains healthy minerals that reduce stress hormone levels. This is especially helpful in people who have high levels of adrenaline and cortisol.
The Downside of Drinking Salt Water
Our ancient ancestors only consumed around 200 mg of salt per day. What happens when you drink salt water is, you may consume as much of your daily allowance in one glass of water. Taking in too much salt can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.