Salt is used for food seasoning, it is cheap and easily obtainable. Everyone knows that. But do you know that drinking salt water can bring a number of surprising health benefits? According to thealternativedaily.com, here are several benefits of drinking salt water:
- Aids metabolism
Adding a pinch of salt into drinking water can slightly slow down metabolism, causing the water to be fully absorbed by our body. In contrary, drinking plain water immediately makes us want to urinate.
- Regulate the balance of minerals and electrolytes
Dehydration and various causes—vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive sweating, etc—lead to an imbalance of minerals and electrolytes, disrupting your body’s balance. Drinking salt water can help to restore that balance.
- Helps digestion
Salt water helps in stimulating the salivary gland in producing salivary amylase, an important enzyme that plays a role in the initial stage of digestion process. Once it reaches the stomach, salt will stimulate hydrochloric acid and other enzymes that are important in breaking down your food.
- Maintain fluid balance and blood pressure
Every day the human body needs at least 1.5 tsp of salt, which equals to approximately 8 grams. Consuming less than that amount will disturb our fluid balance and blood pressure.
- Prevent various chronic diseases
Shortage of salt can cause circulatory damage and increased inflammatory agents, which may lead to an increased risk of chronic cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome, and even a decline in cognitive abilities, often associated with prolonged salt deficiency condition. Those are 5 surprising benefits of drinking salt water. However, please consult your physician first if you decide to drink salt water regularly.
Text by Denistya Sagita
Stock photos from nvnhealthplus.com
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