First, make sure you drink sufficient amounts of water to help your body regain its desired sodium-to-water ratio ( 2 , 7 ). You can also try eating foods that are rich in potassium, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and dairy.
Drink Plenty of Water
This is because water helps the body flush out excess sodium. Not only is hydration important for managing sodium levels, but it is also important for overall health. When you drink plenty of water, your body can flush the excess sodium in your body.
"And when you're holding on to more sodium, your body tries to dilute it with water — increasing your blood volume and causing you to retain fluid." Hence the excessive thirst, bloating and blood pressure rise. And if you're frequently consuming excess salt, this process strains your heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
Excess sodium from a high-salt meal typically takes 2 to 4 days to leave the body. This time can be decreased by drinking extra water, exercising, sweating, cutting back on salt, and eating fruits and vegetables high in potassium.
Drinking more water increases urine production and helps flush out excess sodium. On average, adults need 8 to 12 cups of water a day to replace normal losses, which means you may need to drink more to get rid of the extra sodium in your system.
Well, the short answer is actually yes. If you drink too much water, you can cause sodium (salt) levels in your body to be diluted to a dangerously low level, disrupting your electrolyte balance– and that can have serious effects on your health if not corrected.
If too much salt in your diet makes you dehydrated, your stomach will feel it. You might feel nauseated, or you might have diarrhea. If your stomach is upset or you have cramps, take a look at what you've been eating during the past few days and figure out how to cut back on the salt.
"Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and due to the excess liquid in the body's tissues it leads to swelling, bloating, and puffiness," says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD.
Discussion. This study showed that only one meal containing high amount of salt impairs endothelial function 60 min after consuming it in healthy subjects. This meal also significantly increased pulsatility and resistive indices of both renal and carotid arteries.
If you're feeling bloated from excess sodium, “the best tip for quick-ish relief is to drink more water and eat mild foods with potassium, like banana, avocado, and sweet potato,” says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD.
To compensate for a high salt meal, try drinking more water, eating potassium-rich foods, and reducing your salt intake at other meals.
Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
However, foods high in sodium can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure, while foods high in saturated fat can cause longer-term issues.
A diet high in salt (or sodium) can cause raised blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, and many people who have high blood pressure do not know it. For tips on how to cut down on salt, read Tips for a lower-salt diet.
The link between salt and sleep
“Eating a meal that's high in sodium at dinnertime can contribute to sleep disturbances, in part due to an increase in blood pressure and fluid retention,” Dr. Darling says. “The result may be restless sleep, frequent awakenings and not feeling rested in the morning.
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening.
Insomnia is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Over time, poor sleep can also lead to unhealthy habits that can hurt your heart, including higher stress levels, less motivation to be physically active, and unhealthy food choices.
If you have one high-sodium meal and then return to normal, healthy dietary habits, you'll likely return to your normal weight in 1-2 days. If you're returning from a vacation of over-indulging and are retaining a higher amount of excess fluid, it may take longer.
Drinking water is one of the best and fastest ways to flush out toxins from your system. Water transports toxins through your system via your bloodstream, making sure they're expelled from your body.
Researchers have found that using lemon juice and/or zest can help people reduce their sodium intake by as much as 75 percent, since lemon is a natural enhancer that intensifies flavors.