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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

Approved Guide

How to Handle Flush Salt Out of Your Body Step by Step

When flush salt out of your body leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Staying Hydrated

Drink plenty of water.

One of the best ways to flush waste and excess nutrients out of your system is to stay hydrated. The simplest way to hydrate yourself is to drink water. While the exact amount of water you should drink every day varies from person to person, these basic guidelines work for most people:

One of the best ways to flush waste and excess nutrients out of your system is to stay hydrated.
The simplest way to hydrate yourself is to drink water.
While the exact amount of water you should drink every day varies from person to person, these basic guidelines work for most people:
One of the best ways to flush waste and excess nutrients out of your system is to stay hydrated.
The simplest way to hydrate yourself is to drink water.

Part 2

Getting Exercise

Break a sweat.

Your body sheds both water and salt when you sweat. Because of this, strenuous exercise, or other activities that bring on a good sweat, are good ways to get excess sodium out of your system.

Your body sheds both water and salt when you sweat.
Because of this, strenuous exercise, or other activities that bring on a good sweat, are good ways to get excess sodium out of your system.
Your body sheds both water and salt when you sweat.
Because of this, strenuous exercise, or other activities that bring on a good sweat, are good ways to get excess sodium out of your system.
Your body sheds both water and salt when you sweat.

Stay hydrated while you exercise.

Allowing yourself to get dehydrated while you exercise can actually cause your body to retain salt, potentially leading to a serious health condition called hypernatremia. Always drink water while exercising, especially if you are hot or working up a sweat.

Allowing yourself to get dehydrated while you exercise can actually cause your body to retain salt, potentially leading to a serious health condition called hypernatremia.
Always drink water while exercising, especially if you are hot or working up a sweat.
Allowing yourself to get dehydrated while you exercise can actually cause your body to retain salt, potentially leading to a serious health condition called hypernatremia.
Always drink water while exercising, especially if you are hot or working up a sweat.
Allowing yourself to get dehydrated while you exercise can actually cause your body to retain salt, potentially leading to a serious health condition called hypernatremia.

Ask your doctor about maintaining a good electrolyte balance.

Losing too much sodium during a workout can be dangerous. Drinking too much water while you exercise can cause your sodium and other electrolyte levels to drop too low. This can result in exercise-induced hyponatremia. Talk to your doctor or a sports dietitian about how to make sure you don’t shed too much sodium while you work out, especially if you are already on a low-sodium diet.

Losing too much sodium during a workout can be dangerous.
Drinking too much water while you exercise can cause your sodium and other electrolyte levels to drop too low.
This can result in exercise-induced hyponatremia.
Talk to your doctor or a sports dietitian about how to make sure you don’t shed too much sodium while you work out, especially if you are already on a low-sodium diet.
Losing too much sodium during a workout can be dangerous.

Part 3

Changing Your Diet

Talk to your doctor about your salt intake.

If you’re concerned that you are getting too much salt in your diet, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you determine whether you need to cut back on your sodium intake, and how much sodium you should be getting in your diet.

If you’re concerned that you are getting too much salt in your diet, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
They can help you determine whether you need to cut back on your sodium intake, and how much sodium you should be getting in your diet.
If you’re concerned that you are getting too much salt in your diet, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
They can help you determine whether you need to cut back on your sodium intake, and how much sodium you should be getting in your diet.
If you’re concerned that you are getting too much salt in your diet, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a registered dietitian.

Cut down on dietary salt.

Doctors recommend that most healthy adults should consume no more than 2,300 mg (0.08 oz) of sodium per day. If you eat a standard American diet, chances are that you are eating far more than the recommended dosage. You can cut down on your salt intake with a few simple changes:

Doctors recommend that most healthy adults should consume no more than 2,300 mg (0.08 oz) of sodium per day.
If you eat a standard American diet, chances are that you are eating far more than the recommended dosage.
You can cut down on your salt intake with a few simple changes:
Doctors recommend that most healthy adults should consume no more than 2,300 mg (0.08 oz) of sodium per day.
If you eat a standard American diet, chances are that you are eating far more than the recommended dosage.

Eat more potassium.

Potassium, like sodium, is an important electrolyte that your body needs to stay healthy. Most people eat too much sodium, and not enough potassium. Getting enough dietary potassium can help your body get rid of excess sodium. Good sources of potassium include:

Potassium, like sodium, is an important electrolyte that your body needs to stay healthy.
Most people eat too much sodium, and not enough potassium.
Getting enough dietary potassium can help your body get rid of excess sodium.
Good sources of potassium include:
Potassium, like sodium, is an important electrolyte that your body needs to stay healthy.

Part 4

Managing Your Salt Levels Safely

Use caution when doing cleanses or crash diets.

Many health fads, like the juice cleanse or the salt water flush, claim to detoxify the body, flush out impurities, and help reduce problems like bloat and water retention. However, there is little or no evidence to show that these types of fad diets or cleanses are effective. They can also seriously disrupt your body’s sodium levels, sometimes with dangerous results.

Many health fads, like the juice cleanse or the salt water flush, claim to detoxify the body, flush out impurities, and help reduce problems like bloat and water retention.
However, there is little or no evidence to show that these types of fad diets or cleanses are effective.
They can also seriously disrupt your body’s sodium levels, sometimes with dangerous results.
Many health fads, like the juice cleanse or the salt water flush, claim to detoxify the body, flush out impurities, and help reduce problems like bloat and water retention.
However, there is little or no evidence to show that these types of fad diets or cleanses are effective.

Don’t overhydrate.

Although it seems counter-intuitive, it is possible to drink too much water. If you are forcing yourself to guzzle excessive amounts of water while exercising or simply as a way to flush out your system, you could put yourself at risk of developing hyponatremia, or a deficiency of salt in the blood. Hyponatremia can lead to fatal swelling of the brain.

Although it seems counter-intuitive, it is possible to drink too much water.
If you are forcing yourself to guzzle excessive amounts of water while exercising or simply as a way to flush out your system, you could put yourself at risk of developing hyponatremia, or a deficiency of salt in the blood.
Hyponatremia can lead to fatal swelling of the brain.
Although it seems counter-intuitive, it is possible to drink too much water.
If you are forcing yourself to guzzle excessive amounts of water while exercising or simply as a way to flush out your system, you could put yourself at risk of developing hyponatremia, or a deficiency of salt in the blood.

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