07/18/2025
Lets talk hydration! With the hot days of summer, it's imperative to stay hydrated and sometimes water alone doesn't help. So what does? Salt! Here's why...
🧂 1. Sodium helps your body retain water
When you drink plain water without electrolytes, especially after sweating or losing fluids, your body may flush it out too quickly (urine). Sodium helps keep that water inside your bloodstream and cells where it's needed.
đź’§ 2. Sodium supports fluid absorption in the intestines
In your small intestine, there's a special mechanism called sodium-glucose co-transport. It pulls in water with sodium and glucose — meaning if salt and a little sugar are present, more water is absorbed from your gut.
This is the basis of oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which are used to treat dehydration from diarrhea or sweating.
⚖️ 3. Sodium keeps your electrolytes balanced
When you lose fluids through sweat, vomiting, or diarrhea, you also lose electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Without enough sodium, you risk:
Low blood pressure
Muscle cramps
Fatigue or confusion
Adding sodium back helps restore electrolyte balance and prevents hyponatremia (dangerously low sodium levels).
âś… Best ways to rehydrate:
Water + pinch of salt + small amount of sugar (homemade ORS)
Electrolyte drinks (like LMNT, my favorite!)
Foods with natural sodium (like broth or soup)
⚠️ A note on overdoing salt:
Too much salt without enough water can dehydrate you further by pulling water out of your cells. So it's about balance—a bit of salt with water is helpful, but not excess salt alone.
