From Healing to Harm: The Benefits and Disadvantages of Salt Water

If you are suffering from a sore throat due to a cold and cough and go to the doctor, then apart from taking medicines, he can ask you to gargle with salt water. Salt water removes the water present in the swollen throat tissues and helps in getting rid of the throat problem. It helps fight infection-causing bacteria and allergies and prevents them from growing. To get rid of sore throat, add one teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water (250 ml) and gargle every morning. 

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If your toenails start growing inwards, causing you pain and swelling, then soak your feet in salt water for 15 minutes and then dry the feet. This will soften your nails and make it easier for you to cut the ingrown nail. It will also help in treating the inflammation caused by the ingrown nail.

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Salt water is also very beneficial in dealing with fever. To deal with fever, when a cloth is soaked in cold salt water and applied on the head, it transfers heat from the body to the cloth and the electrolytes present in the salt maintain the electrolyte balance in the body. Thus it helps in reducing your body temperature. To deal with fever, add half a teaspoon of salt to a cup of cold water, soak a cloth in it and place it on the forehead for 2 to 3 minutes.

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If you are afraid of drinking ice cream, hot tea or coffee and are troubled by tooth sensitivity, then you can use this home remedy to deal with tooth sensitivity. Salt water acts as an antibacterial agent as it prevents bacteria from growing. It helps protect the gums from bacterial attack and thus relieves sensitive teeth. To avoid tooth sensitivity, mix 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse regularly.

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If your child tells you about the problem of throat pain which can occur in tonsillitis or enlarged adenoids, then you can use salt water to deal with this problem. High amounts of salt draws out the fluid filled in the tissues which are swollen and thus helps in reducing the swelling of the throat as well as relieving pain. Salt water also helps in preventing bacteria growth due to dehydration. To avoid this problem, add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water and gargle. But make sure that your child does not feel uncomfortable in doing so as drinking salt water can also cause vomiting.

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If you are not able to sleep at night due to cracked heels, then you can try this easy and simple home remedy. Salt water not only softens the feet, treats cracked heels and removes dead skin but also reduces the risk of suffering from skin infections and irritation. To avoid this problem, add salt to slightly warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Now with the help of a pumice stone, rub the feet to get rid of the dead skin. Do this at least twice a week before going to bed to get effective results.

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Salt water is an inexpensive and effective natural remedy to deal with the problem of smelly feet. Smelly feet can be caused by poor hygiene. It can also indicate an underlying cause of bacterial infection. Salt water is naturally antibacterial and prevents bacteria from growing. Thus, salt water helps you deal with smelly feet. To get rid of this problem, add a handful of rock salt to half a bucket of warm water and dip your feet in it for some time. Now wash your feet with cold water or rub ice cubes on your feet. Do this regularly to avoid excessive sweating so that you can get rid of smelly feet.

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Most of the time we are told to drink more water. Although eating and drinking are thought to be from a metabolic perspective, according to Matt Stone, author of 'Eat for Heat', drinking too much plain water can cause the body to become thinner, and when this happens, it puts stress on the body and slows metabolism.

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Cellular health is dependent on a particular concentration of minerals and electrolytes. When we drink large amounts of plain water, the extracellular fluid becomes diluted which triggers a stress response and releases adrenaline. But consuming water with natural salt, allows the body to absorb and use the water you are drinking. Therefore, natural salt and water slows down this process and helps in absorbing the properties of water.

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Salt water activates the salivary glands in the mouth. Inside the stomach, natural salt stimulates hydrochloric acid and protein-digesting enzymes, both of which help break down food. Apart from this, this water also helps to stimulate enzymes in the liver, which makes food easier to digest. The role of unrefined and natural salt in stimulating stomach acid cannot be denied. The stomach is designed to secrete hydrochloric acid, which kills foreign substances such as harmful bacteria, fungi and yeast. This helps in digesting proteins more. People with low hydrochloric acid are unable to digest these proteins, which can cause gas, bloating and food allergies.

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The human body needs 1.5 teaspoons or 8 grams of salt per day. If we do not consume this required amount of sodium, the body turns into a crisis mode called 'sodium-boring'. Proper salt intake helps maintain fluid balance and blood pressure. With low salt intake, an enzyme called renin and a hormone called aldosterone start increasing rapidly. If this condition persists for a long time, high renin and aldosterone levels increase circulatory damage and inflammation-promoting agents in the body. According to researchers, salt also increases the risk of chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, heart disease.

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Salt, especially natural unrefined salt, helps reduce stress. The main cause of stress in most people is lack of adequate sleep. In fact, this salt water can help you with this problem. Research shows that natural salt has a great effect on stress levels. According to an article published in the Journal of Neurosis, it can increase sodium levels in your bloodstream and reduce stress. Salt helps reduce anxiety and prevents your mind from creating all those worrying situations that keep you up all night. Not only this, drinking warm salt water can increase your oxytocin levels. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps you feel calm and relaxed.

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Rich in minerals, this water helps the body in its natural detoxification process. This water is also naturally antibacterial and can rid the body of dangerous bacteria. Many people suffer from poor digestion, as their gastrointestinal tract receives undigested food and waste material over time. This waste material can slowly build up in your stomach, small intestine and colon, causing harmful bacteria and other foreign matter to grow. Warm salt water essentially helps flush out those waste materials and toxins by cleansing your digestive system and stimulating faster bowel function. It also improves digestion and delivers nutrition to the body's cells.

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A popular theory about osteoporosis and other bone disorders is that the body uses calcium and other minerals from the bones to survive acidity in the blood. Salt water is known to help improve bone health, as it is naturally rich in healthy minerals and has an alkaline effect.

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Natural salt contains minerals that help take care of your skin so that you can feel great. Chromium in it fights acne and reduces skin infections. Sulfur helps keep the skin clean and smooth. It can also help cure dry scalp, eczema and rashes, which are often caused by sulfur deficiency. Zinc heals wounds faster, strengthens the immune system and regulates the activity of oil glands. Iodine helps increase oxygen consumption and the metabolic rate of the skin.

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Since salt water therapy has been used for centuries around the world, including in ancient Greece, it works wonders on the skin. Some studies have shown that a salt water bath can even cure a disease like psoriasis. Salt water is said to benefit your skin in the following ways:

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• It closes the pores,
• Absorbs excess oil from the skin
• Balances oil production in the skin,
• Kills acne-causing bacteria
• Reduces scars
• Removes dead skin cells
• Restores the natural pH of the skin
• Increases hydration
• Reduces inflammation, etc.

You can lose weight by consuming salt water. But it does not reduce fat weight but reduces water weight. Salty drinks cause you to have 'osmotic diarrhea' due to the excessive amount of salt in the water. Salt water cleans your intestines, making your body unable to absorb water which causes diarrhea.

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If you live near the sea then you are very lucky. But if you do not live on the coast, then use some warm salt water the next time you have an acne breakout. Mix sea salt in a cup of water and apply it on the acne with the help of a cotton ball and let it dry. This remedy is very beneficial.

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