It may surprise you that drinking salt water has become a recent trend. Salt water is believed to offer several health benefits that you don't get from plain water alone.

Let's look at some of the purported benefits of drinking salt water regularly. To be fair, we'll also examine a few drawbacks. By the time we're done, you'll know the pros and cons of drinking salt water daily.

The health benefits of salt water

When you drink salt water, you'll reap most of the benefits of regular tap water, plus a few more. After all, any water consumption should help replace the body fluids lost throughout the day, thus improving hydration. There are also several theories about the health benefits associated with drinking salt water.

Drink salt water to replace lost sodium

Sodium is considered one of the most important electrolytes. While electrolytes generally support the body's functioning, sodium is especially important for muscle and nerve function. It plays a vital role in muscle contraction and relaxation and in regulating your fluid balance.

The problem with salt water is that it contains a relatively high percentage of sodium. Regular drinking water doesn't contain as much sodium, which is one of the reasons some people drink salt water. The goal is to replenish sodium stores, which are often depleted, especially when you sweat a lot during exercise. Because you're supplying your body with both water and sodium, it's safe to say that salt water is better for hydration than a regular glass of water.

Drink salt water to aid digestion

Saltwater consumption and digestion can be closely linked. When we digest food, the process begins in the mouth. First, your saliva breaks down the food, making it easier for the rest of your digestive system to process. After consumption, saltwater can stimulate your salivary glands to produce more saliva, thus aiding the entire digestive process.

Additionally, natural salts like sodium chloride have been shown to aid in the production and function of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid). Drinking salt water can help stimulate stomach acid so it can break down the food you eat. A 2012 study shows that a lack of stomach acid leads to indigestion and bloating. As a result, acid reflux can also occur: Undigested food begins to produce excess gas, creating additional acid in the stomach, which rises up into the esophagus and causes heartburn.

Drinking salt water can prevent all of this by allowing your stomach to function as it should. The salt helps stomach acid chemically digest food, making it easier to digest hard-to-digest foods and overall reducing the development or occurrence of stomach problems.

Flush out toxins by drinking salt water

Generally, drinking water helps rid your body of harmful toxins. But with salt water, this theory is taken to a new level. Yes, drinking water causes you to urinate more, which helps eliminate a large portion of the toxins. But let's go back to the point above about salt water and digestion. By improving your digestive system, drinking salt water can lead to more frequent bowel movements. This, in turn, allows even more things to be flushed out of your body.

Many people drink salt water for this reason alone. It's also called a "salt water flush" because you're trying to flush as much bad stuff out of your body as possible.

Health risks and disadvantages of salt water consumption

In theory, drinking salt water can have a number of health benefits. But what are the biggest drawbacks?

Drinking salt water can cause diarrhea

As mentioned in the last point, drinking salt water can cause you to have to empty your bowels frequently. The downside is that you're more likely to get diarrhea if you drink salt water frequently. A healthy level of sodium in your body is fine, but too much becomes a problem. It causes intestinal problems, which lead to diarrhea, which in turn often leads to dehydration due to the sudden and significant loss of fluid.

This brings us to the main problem with the saltwater fad: It's really difficult to self-diagnose and determine exactly how much salt your body actually needs on a given day. And even once you've figured that out, it's quite difficult to measure the exact amount in a glass of water.

That's why it's better to drink le melo, for example, because you get a specific dose of sodium in each glass. With a le melo mix, you can easily regulate the amount you consume. Or you can do your own chemical calculations to determine the specific amount of sodium chloride your body needs. It's up to you.

Drinking salt water lacks other minerals and nutrients

While drinking salt water hydrates you better than drinking plain water, it still isn't enough for optimal hydration. Some electrolytes aren't present in salt water. Drinking salt water only replenishes sodium chloride , not other important electrolytes.

Le melo can also counteract this problem. Each le melo electrolyte mix is ​​packed with minerals and nutrients that your body actually needs. It not only restores your sodium balance but also provides you with other important electrolytes. Proper hydration is not just about the right amount of water, but also the right amount of electrolytes.

Drinking salt water is disgusting

Perhaps the most obvious downside to salt water is that it tastes disgusting. If you've ever accidentally swallowed seawater, you know how awful it can taste. This isn't the kind of drink you want to consume multiple times a day. If you try the salt water trend, you won't get the expected results from just a small glass a day. And drinking multiple glasses a day is hardly worth the promised benefits.

This is another reason why le melo is the perfect alternative. It's not a fad, but a proven product.

With le melo, you get a safe dose of sodium (the main reason you drink salt water in the first place!) and a delicious yuzu or grapefruit flavor. Le melo is delicious enough to drink regularly—an important factor if you want to achieve healthy results.

Drinking salt water can cause kidney damage

Homemade saltwater mixes almost always contain too much salt, which almost always leads to health problems, especially kidney damage. Of course, your body needs a little salt to function as it should. But too much salt can quickly become harmful. Everything in moderation.

Most of your foods already contain enough salt, so you're probably already meeting your daily sodium needs through your diet. Adding salt water to the mix will result in too much of it entering your body. This can cause your kidneys to become overwhelmed with processing the extra salt, which can lead to kidney damage.

Conclusion: Should you drink salt water?

The salt water trend seems to be quite justified: In theory, it can help with hydration, aid digestion, and flush out toxins. In reality, however, even a single glass of homemade salt water can go too far and cause stomach upsets leading to diarrhea and kidney problems. Not to mention the awful taste. There's simply too much salt in a glass of salt water—and there are better alternatives.

Le melo is a carefully crafted powder that easily mixes with your drinking water. A single packet of le melo provides a safe amount of sodium and a whole lot more, providing your body with the essential benefits of salt water, but without the potential health risks. Plus, le melo contains added electrolytes and natural flavorings, so it keeps you better hydrated and tastes better. If you want more from your regular drinking water, don't add salt, add le melo.