Celtic Sea Salt

[BL11]

Not sure if this has been asked before, or if I am posting the right place, but a colleague has just mentioned they have started to add Celtic Sea Salt to their drinking water which apparently is rich in electrolytes and minerals.

Has any body ever tried this, or could offer any guidance? I cannot imagine drinking salt water being a great taste, but since being diagnosed a few weeks ago, I am conscious of trying to drink water to keep hydrated (I was told off this week at my Diabetic Nurse appt) and apparently using this can reduce the number of visits to the rest room too?

 

[Inka]

I tried Himalayan Pink Salt in water @BL11 and it made me vomit. It tasted gross too. I’d stick to normal water personally.

 

[mashedupmatt]

Be careful with salt as it will raise your blood pressure making you more at risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes - I'd stick with plain water too

 

[BL11]

Thanks @Inka and @mashedupmatt, plain water is absolutely fine and happy to stick with that!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

There can be a lot of claims made about electrolytes, and trace minerals (especially from people with a premium product to market)… and it’s true that electrolytes are essential (which is why hydration mixes used in famine zones include a fair amount of salt, plus often potassium, magnesium and zinc). Commercial sachets tent to include sugar/sweeteners and flavourings.

A healthy varied diet is likely to be providing the zinc, potassium, and magnesium you need. And a personally I’m slightly dubious as to whether the body cares all that much about whether the salt is Celtic Sea Salt, Himalayan Mountain Salt, or bog standard Asda Table Salt to be honest

 

[SimonP]

If I get cramp at home I'll have a bit of salt (bog standard), I'd not have it with plain water but rather with something like OJ or even just on its own.

I have in the past popped a bit of salt in my water bottles with a touch of squash when riding when I was getting cramp. I stopped bothering doing this after a while though as it made no difference and didn't taste particularly nice (which is a problem if you're thirsty - sometimes you crave water).

While one mainly loses sodium in sweat, sweat itself is hypotonic (i.e. lower sodium concentration than blood) so you don't really need to replace the sodium but rather the water (i.e. sweating increases the blood sodium concentration). I will quite happily get enough sodium from what I eat and if it's hot I'll take something salty.

As you mention consuming excess salt (though probably hard to do drinking it) will reduce toilet visits up to a point, but as @mashedupmatt says this is because the body won't excrete the water so you end with raised blood pressure. If you do drink really salty water you may make yourself vomit, which is probably not going to help electrolytes 🙂

The whole fad around hydration is IMHO exactly that, afaiu advice these days for athletes is to drink to thirst rather than to enforce consumption, though there is perhaps something to be said for a reminder to take a drink (if you're otherwise engaged running or cycling), but not a specific volume to consume.