Drinking salt water, such as seawater, leads to severe dehydration and health risks because human kidneys cannot produce urine saltier than seawater. To eliminate the excess salt, the body must use more water than the amount consumed, causing a net loss of water and worsening dehydration
. Here are the main effects and dangers of drinking salt water:
- Increased dehydration: Salt water's high salt concentration draws water out of your cells into the bloodstream to balance salt levels. This causes cells to lose water and shrink, leading to cellular dehydration even as you drink water
- Nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal distress: The body may react to excess salt by causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which further depletes fluids and worsens dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalance: Excess sodium disrupts the body's electrolyte balance, potentially causing irregular heart rhythms, muscle spasms, neurological issues, and increased strain on the kidneys
- Kidney strain: The kidneys work hard to excrete the excess salt, which can overwhelm them and lead to kidney damage or failure over time
- Potentially fatal outcomes: Continued consumption of salt water can lead to seizures, delirium, cardiac arrest, and death due to severe dehydration and electrolyte disturbances
In summary, drinking salt water is harmful because it causes the body to lose more water than it gains, leading to rapid dehydration and serious health complications. The only safe way to consume seawater is by removing the salt through processes like distillation before drinking
