Does salt hydrate or dehydrate the body?

Question

Everyone seems to have a different answer to this, so I thought I'd try it on here.

From what I understand, salt hydrates the body even though it makes you thirsty. Is this correct or no?

Note: if I'm wrong, feel free to scold me. Don't let me go easy as I need to learn from my mistakes.

Thanks :)

Answer 1

Both, depending on the amounts ingested. Actually the salt doesn't hydrate, it allows the body to retain enough fluids to hydrate the body. Unless you ingest too much, then it causes you to retain too much fluid, causing all sorts of health problem like High blood pressure, bloating and other nasty stuff. Salt is a deadly poison in large amounts but we have to have some salt or we die. Go figure!

Answer 2

Salt Dehydration

Answer 3

The answer may surprise you.Drinking water is half of the equation to hydrate my body. The human body is already 70% water so why are you dehydrated? The cells don't have access to the water that's already there. I need macro and micro minerals(electrolytes) to complete the hydration process at the cellular level. Electrolytes are responsible for every function in the body and are what activate a cell to absorb water and nutrients. Most diets are poor in mineral content. Eat a healthy diet to start with. Cut the junk food since too much salt can really dehydrate further by drawing water out of the cell. Also supplement. There are some decent hydration products out there but I like Hydra-Blast performance spray. Its the fastest and easiest way to hydrate at the cellular level and works great.

Answer 4

I see all these answers saying that salt dehydrates you, which, if you eat a lot of salty foods, it will make you thirsty and your skin dry. However, you need a certain amount of salt in your bloodsteam to KEEP you hydrated. For those of you who disagree with me, I have a sodium defficiency, which causes my sodium levels to lower, and I get extremely dehydrated. You need a sodium level of 135-145 I believe, in your bloodstream, or you will dehydrate.

So, as fas as I know, you are right. You need to maintain a good balance as too much will cause you to retain water and give you other medical issues. But not enough will dehydrate you for sure.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Only H2O can hydrate the body.

by definition -hydration is providing water -

salt in our bodies - and in drinks does hold on to the water - Na+ binds with the water molecules.

Sports drinks have Na+, and Potassium, Magnesium etcetera, because our bodies also need electrolytes - especially for the functioning of the heart.

When the balance of salt/water is off enough in either direction (too much salt, or too little salt)... we die.

excess salt in the human body holds on to water, but it makes the water UNAVAILABLE to the cells that need it..... the cells are dehydrated

Answer 6

salt dehydrates your body. They say if you got stranded on a island with no water.. NOT to drink the ocean water because the sea salt will dehydrate you more and kill you.

Answer 7

Salt dehydrates the body, that's why when you see a movie with people trapped out in a boat in the ocean, they don't drink the water to survive because it will kill them....

Answer 8

Well you need sodium chloride in order to perspire. So you should have a regular healthy dose of salt in your diet. Without salt you can die from overheating. But, if you were to drink a big glass of salt water that can actually dehydrate you.

Answer 9

Both, salt makes you thirsty which I guess you can call dehydrate BUT, the salt makes you retain more water! Think about it, when you eat super salty foods you stop sweating!

Answer 10

Dehydrate, the water is attracted to the salt and diffuses toward the salt. (Diffuses to an area of higher concentration (in this case salt) from an area of lower concentration.