sodium and water

foxyforce
foxyforce Posts: 3,078 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
why do we need to drink extra water when we have had so much sodium, does it get rid of the sodium?

Replies

  • chgudnitz
    chgudnitz Posts: 4,079
    It helps your body dilute the sodium in your body, and yes it does help to flush it out. Also, exercise and sweating is a great way to help eliminate over consumption of sodium.
  • christahollis
    christahollis Posts: 152 Member
    It's all about osmoregulation...or more simply put...water balance.

    When we eat a lot of sodium, it changes the salinity (sodium content) of our body tissues. When the salinity of our body tissues is high, the body tissues absorb as much water as is needed through the digestive system to bring it back down to the level that is optimal for metabolic functions. And we retain water.

    Now...here's the beauty of the system...if we drink a ton of water...and/or eat a low sodium diet...the salinity of the body tissues goes down. In order to keep sodium diluted at the level the body prefers, the body tissues release water into the excretory system. Thus, shedding water weight.

    Biologically, it's really cool...but I'll spare you the detailed description of kidney function...
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