Does Salt Make You Thirsty?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Does salt make you thirsty?” and discuss if salt can make you fat or not. We will also discuss the health implications of eating too much salt.

Yes, consuming too much salt can make you thirsty. When you eat too much salt, sodium levels in your bloodstream increase. This increased saltiness sends signals to the thirst center in the brain, which then increases thirst so that you drink water and the balance inside the body is restored.

Does salt make you fat?

Salt does not have any effect directly on fat and weight gain but it can make you gain weight indirectly through water retention. What it does is, when you take a lot of salt, your body makes you feel thirsty so that you drink water and everything stays balanced.

When you do drink water, your body holds onto that water. So this water retention is what can make you gain weight.

Does salt have calories?

No, salt does not have any calories at all. If you add it to your food, the total calorie count of your food would not increase because of salt.

Is taking too much salt bad for you?

Yes, taking too much salt in your diet is bad for you. An average human only needs about 1500 milligrams of sodium per day and if you consume more than this on a regular basis, you may face some immediate and long term side effects of it.

Although sodium and chloride both are essential for the body to maintain the electrolyte balance and proper nerve function, you should take it in moderation.

Some short term effects of taking too much salt are as follows.

Taking too much salt can lead to water retention in your body. You may feel like your stomach is bloated and your hands, feet or face is puffy. You may even weigh more than before due to all the water weight.
It can also cause a rise in your blood pressure.
It can make you feel so thirsty because a lot of sodium can leave you dehydrated so you end up drinking a lot of water.
Your urine frequency may also increase because since the sodium will leave you dehydrated, you will be drinking a lot more water.

How to cut out salt from your diet?

Cut down on processed foods like chips, ready made meals, pastas, and sugary drinks.
Make your meals at home from scratch and add less salt.
Use spices other than salt to make your dish flavorful.
Make it a habit of eating less salty foods.

Does salt cause diabetes?

Salt does not cause diabetes but consuming too much salt can be very bad for diabetics. Salt does not alter the blood glucose levels. Salt should be avoided by diabetic and people at risk of developing diabetes.

Salt can raise blood pressure and cause hypertension. Diabetics are already at a risk of developing hypertension so salt intake will only increase the risk. Additionally, diabetics are also very prone to developing heart diseases and dying from them so salt only adds to these things.

Does salt cause acne?

Yes, salt can cause acne but there is not a lot of research to back this up. There have been some studies but their results are not enough to give a verdict that is 100% confirmed.

As of now, there are two probable causes. The first one is that high salt intake might trigger inflammation and cause acne since acne is an inflammatory disease.

The second one is that taking too much salt can leave you dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to dry skin and when this happens, the dead skin cells block your pores. And whenever there’s blockage, bacteria can invade.

Although acne is usually caused by bacteria, hormones etc, diet and lifestyle also play a role when it comes to skin care.

Find out more about the harmful effects of taking too much salt here.

Other FAQs about Salt that you may be interested in.

Does salt kill plants?

Does salt kill snails?

Does salt kill spiders?

Does salt kill yeast?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does salt make you thirsty?” and discussed if salt can make you fat or not. We also discussed the health implications of eating too much salt.