Electrolyte imbalance

(Jeremiah ) #1

I’d say that currently I’m learning a very hard lesson on electrolytes because I was generally taking 2 tsp of Himalayan salt 2 tsp of potassium/no salt and good magnesium supplement doctors best chelated magnesium glycinate/ lysinate. But apparently I drank too much water/5 liters a day plus the occasional cup of coffee. Apparently I was lowering my sodium levels to 121 which lower that that could of gave me seizures according to the doctor. I Also was diagnosed with appendicitis and colonitis and there all blaming this diet which totally has me in a corner?.. I still want to get a CBC lipid panel done but if there is any advice you could give me I’d greatly appreciate it. Wished there was a way I could test my sodium and electrolytes daily… :pray:

#2

It seems to be a classic case of over hydration. It depends on many factors, like weight, health, kidney, medication, climate, humidity, but 5litre a day seems a bit high. You also have to be careful of any diuretic effect from certain medications along with caffeine.

Stop drinking so much and increase your sodium intake with your water intake. Electrolytes help keep you hydrates, so from my experience that’s why I don’t have to drink so much.

You can read the book The Salt Fix which highlight the negative health effects of low salt intake. Also the author noted that people on a low carb diet uses up more electrolytes than the standard diet and needs more salt.

I keep 16oz glass bottles in the fridge and spiked each bottle with maybe half teaspoon of himalayan salt. I don’t often drink plain water.

(Khara) #3

I have family who had to have an appendectomy. We were told that the cause is often a foreign object such as pepper, a seed, or a small portion of a nut. It sounds like being told that Keto or low carb has caused your appendicitis is coming once again from a doctor who doesn’t understand the diet and is just having a knee jerk reaction to it. If you have the time and energy after dealing with your illness I’d be curious to hear your doctor explain how this diet over the SAD diet has caused appendicitis. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

(Porcinus) #4

I’ve been told that low salt level is more common among older people, but we’re all certainly different. Yes, it does look like that amount of water was well more than you needed. If it’s hot and I’m working and sweating, many liters of water per day is standard, but if I stay cool, then might only be a cup of coffee or two for most of the day. Never had any problems, either, way, although I did have a little-bit-low salt level, once, which really surprised me - I grew up reading that most people got too much salt, to start with.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

Dr. Phinney says that eating carbohydrate makes you retain water and signals the kidneys to hang onto salt, so when you go ketotic you need to increase your salt intake. He recommends drinking bone broth throughout the day to keep your salt intake up. Dr. Noakes advises not listening to advice to stay hydrated; instead, just drink when you’re thirsty. The science behind the idea that too much salt causes high blood pressure is just about as valid as the science behind the idea that fat is unhealthy.