A glass of salt water is the wellness trend that influencers swear by right now.
A wellness trend that doesn't involve expensive treatments? Try with glass salt water per day. Does this really work?!
A pinch of salt in the morning glass of water is the latest trend in the field of well-being and wellness, which should contribute to better well-being and health in a convenient and simple way. It might sound crazy, but sipping salt water is the latest health craze being promoted by wellness influencers as a way to hydrate, detox and improve digestion before summer.
The idea is simple. You add a little salt to your glass of plain water. But before you join the influencers who practice this trend, check a few details.
Photo: Unsplash/Jason TuinstraWhat should be the amount of salt?
According to the NHS, adults should consume no more than 6g of salt a day. THAT is about one teaspoon of salt. Too much salt can raise your blood pressure, which carries health risks for cardiovascular and kidney disease.
What's the science behind the saltwater trend?
As temperatures rise, you naturally sweat more, as this is how the body cools down. Exercising in warm weather makes you sweat even more, which can increase your risk of dehydration. This is where salt comes in. Common salt consists of sodium and chloride, of two electrolytes. These are nutrients that help transport water to your cells to maintain proper fluid balance, so heavy sweating may make you want to reach for foods higher in sodium.
Photo: Unsplash/Giorgio TrovatoThe detoxifying benefits of sodium
However, salt is not the only way to regulate sodium levels in the body. In fact, small amounts of sodium are found in fresh fruits and vegetables, and since the body needs this mineral in very small amounts, you probably already consume enough of it on a daily basis. If you do intense sports or if you experience muscle cramps or dizziness, you may need to add a little extra salt to your body. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to watch the daily intake of salt in the body.
As another advantage of drinking salt water, supporters of this trend mention the promotion of detoxification. They claim that it's best to drink your salty drink on an empty stomach in the morning to trigger the cleansing effect, although there's no real research to back this up.
