Will drinking lots of water wash out the salt from my body?

Question

If so, how much should I drink? If not, are there any other ways to flush out the salt, besides just old-fashioned waiting a day or two for it to leave my system?

Well, of course I don't want to flush out my whole body of all the salt, I know that's not good - I just want to wash out the excess salts, the kind that makes you bloated.

Answer 1

Basically in a nut shell, yes, when you drink water the water molecules will work with the salt molecules and displace the parts of each to create different bonding, and then the system will flush it out.

HOWEVER, your body does need a certain amount of salt for regular functioning (including neuropathways). Not only that, but you can die from overdose of water. Water intoxication.

This is tricky. This is a basic osmolarity issue. You can do a simple experiment to show this. If you had a semi-permeable membrane (so like a plastic bag that will slowly let molecules pass through) and filled it with salt water, and then tied it off like a water balloon, then put it in a tank of water, the bag would slowly enlarge and then possibly burst. This is indicative of what too much water drinking will do to the cells of your body.

So maybe just drink a couple of glasses of water to help, but I wouldn't start drinking a lot of water since you could risk worse health problems or even death.

Answer 2

People might think that's a silly question but it's not. I have just been treated for low sodium which was caused by a "water" pill and the fact I drink over 1liter of water a day. Surgery was put off until the level was acceptable. I ate no salt period . Much to my surprise I was doing harm to my body. I had to eat a few peanuts or put a smudge on wrist and lick it. LOl true! So be careful that you get enough salt as our body does need it. I make sure I have something with salt each day, re nuts a little added to food. Check with your Doctor to find out the best way to "flush" out the toxins in your body. Keep it safe.

Answer 3

Unfortunately (or, indeed, fortunately as you will see ) salt never leaves your system. Sodium and Chloride (salt=Sodium Chloride) are absolutely ESSENTIAL electrolytes needed to keep your body in working order. In fact, if your sodium levels are not kept between strict levels (about 135-145mmol/l), then you will become confused and, in extreme cases, it can lead to coma and death. Thank goodness, then, that your body has several ingenious methods to keep this balance without you having to think about it.
You have easily enough dietary salt in day-to-day food without having to supplement it with the old shaker, so this is the first health tip - don't add salt!. Drinking water is well and good, but like all things should be done in moderation. A healthy adult should drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water a day to keep their kidneys 'flushed through', and this will help eliminate toxins from your system. As previously pointed out, too MUCH water leads to water intoxication, which can be fatal. Ironically, the reason that water intoxication is fatal is that it lowers the serum SODIUM level!! Don't be too strict about the 2l thing, though...you would have to drink a LOT of water and/or have some underlying metabolic problem to get water intoxication. Your kidneys can deal with excess water by simply producing more urine.
In summary: eat a balanced diet without added salt, and drink 2l of water a day, and you'll be doing fine :)

Answer 4

The salt that is naturally in your system will never leave. You cannot wash it out. What happens if you check your blood work after drinking lots of water is that you essentially "trick" your body. Your blood becomes overrun with water and pushes out the salt that usually lives there. This state is called hyponatremic. Na+ is the symbol for sodium, and thus term "natremic" for salt in the body. And when you drown it with water, the blood isn't balanced correctly and isn't getting its fair share, therefore going into a state of hypo (low)-natremia. If the opposite were to happen and you become dehydrated, not taking in enough water, the cells retain too MUCH salt, don't get their fair share of WATER, and become hyper(high)natremic. The balance of water and salt is off once again, but in the opposite direction.
Bottom line......you cannot wash the salt out of your body, and to do so would be unhealthy, any way. Your blood and cells need the healthy balance of both to maintain your body. And when that balance gets off, your electrolytes go crazy and your body goes into a kind of shock, be it minor or major. Sometimes it's easy to fix, and you don't even know it happened. Sometimes it's harder to fix, and you are acutely ill.
Hope this helps. Good luck, and stay healthy......

Answer 5

It's funny that you mentioned this because recently, a woman in my town died of water intoxication due to a stupid radio show contest. It was HORRIBLE! She left behind three kids and a husband. The radio show hosts were warned before they even held the contest by nurses that drinking excessive amounts of water could kill a person. The contest involved drinking water and trying to hold your "wee" to win a Nintendo Wii. The last person standing won the Wii. Here is a link to the story. What a strange story. What is more ironic is that the woman's last name was "Strange." So, to answer your question, "Will drinking lots of water wash out the salt from my body?," the answer is "yes." That's what happens with water intoxication. Had she been drinking gatorade, she would have still been alive because gatorade has sodium and replenishes the electrolytes in your body.

Answer 6

If you drink too much water, you can theoretically give yourself water poisoning, although it takes a LOT of water. Your body does need SOME salt. The best gauge is that if you're thirsty, drink; if you're not, then don't. Your body is perfectly capable of maintaining the balance of salt and other trace minerals this way all by itself; just give it what it's asking for, and you'll be fine.

Answer 7

You don't really want to get rid of salt in your body, it helps you stay hydrated. But yes, drinking too much water can be just as bad for you as not drinking enough. I was in basic training over the summer and we had people getting sick by drinking too much. But no, you don't want to 'wash out the salt' because it can totally screw with your electrolytes.

Answer 8

Did you eat a lot of salt?

Yes water will help remove salts, though exercise will increase it through sweat and absorbtion.

You don't want to rid your body of salt (sodium, iodine, potassium, etc.)
You need these to survive.

Too, much water without salt and other minerals, or too much too fast can kill you or hurt you.

It's best to stay well hydrated by consuming 1/2 ounce of water per pound of bodyweight, per day. Exercise and nutritional habits will increase your need for water(, salt and calories).

Answer 9

Sodium is a necessary nutrient and electrolyte for your body. Some bad things can happen when you try to "mess" with it.Drinking enough to "flush" th body out for any reason is not a smart thing to do etc.You can actually "drown" yourself with excess water,causing your brain to swell and the lungs to fill up with fluids. Your body knows how to regulate itself,don't worry. Take care. SW RNP

Answer 10

You can hardly drink too much water, except for a lady who died the other day after drinking several gallons all at once.