Salt tablets acting like diuretic...?

#1

My keto dietician suggested salt tablets 'cause I am unable to eat 2 tsp of salt a day…makes me feel nauseous if I nibble it as I did previously. I am quite compliant with her suggestions cause she knows a lot more than I do.
She’s helping me knock my omega 3:6 ratio into shape and balance my electrolytes. We have no electrolyte powder or drinks in Australia that don’t contain sugar in some form.
I previously added no salt to food at all.
So…now started by taking 2 salt tablets this evening (1200 mg) and I have been peeing up a storm for the last 3 hours.

I thought salt usually has the opposite effect of retaining fluid?

Has anyone else had this happen from upping salt intake?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Not sure I can be helpful, here, but I’m curious. Do you know how much salt you are already getting in your food? If salt is nauseating you, then I wonder if you really need as much as you think. It is possible that the excess urination might be the result of your kidneys’ attempt to rid the body of excess salt.

If you find yourself headachey, dizzy, lightheaded, or constipated, those are symptoms of lack of sodium, but messy stools and excess urination can be signs of too much.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #3

Also curious. What exactly are you doing to “knock my omega 3:6 ratio into shape”? Messing with fat intake can also cause issues. As can changing anything you’ve grown accustomed to for a long time.

A couple of 1200mg salt tabs is really doodly squat. Do you just swallow with water? How about dissolving them first and drinking over the course of an hour or two. I add 2.5 grams of my salt mix to my morning coffee - one liter. On my work shifts I dissolve approx 6-7 grams of salt (mix of sodium and potassium salts) in a liter of water. I drink that during the course of my shift with no issues. In fact, I’ve become so adapted that I find non-salted water totally unpalatable.

What else are you eating? Anything new? Any diet changes can cause intestinal issues until your gut biota adjust to it.

Finally, peeing isn’t necessarily a negative thing. It’s eliminating lots of stuff you are much better off without. Yes, it takes electrolytes with it, too. But they are easily added back. You don’t need commercial products, just mix your own. All the ingredients are on the grocery shelf.

(Allie) #4

OK, when I suddenly found I was getting sick from the increased salt that had previously made me feel better, I took it as a sign that I was no longer sodium deficient and reduced my intake, still adding to food but no more than that. Instantly felt better. Listen to your body, it’s telling you something.

(Joey) #5

Funny, I’ve found the same. Plain water just tastes weird these days. :thinking:

(Allie) #7

I’m like this with coffee now. First just a pinch tasted weird but now I’m adding about half a teaspoon, my coffee cup does hold a pint though.

(Joey) #8

Might give this a try when feeling adventurous. Sounds interesting.

For the past year I’ve been adding a rounded tablespoon of pure 100% cacao powder to my otherwise black morning coffee. Great combination of flavors - keeps me going until my first meal sometime in early afternoon.

#9

I put salt in my coffee too - highly recommended.

(Robin) #10

“Listen to your body, it’s telling you something.”
Smart.

(Allie) #11

I know many people love this mix, but for me, coffee and chocolate together just doesn’t work. That said, I’m finding recently that chocolate on its own (Absolute Black 100% cacao) makes me feel awful so am wondering if this is why the combination has never worked for me.

But yes, salt in coffee is definitely something to try out. Start with a pinch and see what happens. When I forget to add it now, coffee just tastes bland no matter what else I’ve added to it.

Maybe something for the OP @anon38787346 to try too, if you’re a coffee drinker Marion?

#12

Eating fewer omega 6s eg nuts, macadamia oil etc and more MCTs and fish.

No added salt at all.

Two 650 mg salt tabs.

Nothing new, primarily meat fish chicken eggs occasional broccoli and coconut milk.
No intestinal issues.

#13

Yes, except I’ve not been adding any salt to food for about 3 weeks…I don’t like it…

Tried last week but can’t handle the taste…hence the salt tabs.

Yup…I am a big coffee drinker and thought it would be perfect but I am off the flavour of salt altogether.

I’m getting the impression that no-one else has this response to sodium.

Thanks everyone for replying.
I’ll get back to the dietician and see if she has a take on it. :grinning:

#14

The can definitely do that, you also don’t NEED to take in 2tsp a day, just salt your food and make sure you’re getting in a little extra, that’s all it takes. The only think you MUST do, is keep the carbs low enough for ketosis. My salt intake is pretty respectable and I do have 1g salt tablets for when I need them, 2-1200mg salt tablets would NOT go over well with me, back it off.

Nope, on planet keto we’re told that salt only cause water retention when you’re eating a ton of carbs all the time, but that’s not always the case, like everything else, we’re all individual. Some if your issue could be that you lacked proper salt intake for a long time from not even salting food, but more likely just because 2400mg of salt at once is an insane amount.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #15

If you taste salt in your coffee you’re adding too much! The objective is not to make saltwater coffee. For example, I drink a liter of keto coffee every morning that contains 2.5 grams of my electrolyte mix (sodium and potassium salts). There’s no salt flavour and it does not taste salty. This morning and the next 3 mornings I’m drinking a mix of Mr Viet and Cafe du Monde coffees. I taste them very clearly and distinctly. Both are fairly strong flavoured coffees. I don’t taste salt. My keto coffee mix tastes like cream, but it’s subtle, too. On the other hand, the water/salt mix I drink during my shifts at work does taste slightly salty. Still, it’s nothing like drinking swamp or sea water.

Maybe part of your problem is simply using too much salt on too little food? My experience is that salt enhances a food’s flavour, does not take over.

#16

You are doubling the amt i am taking.which i wrote above.

As i said…thank you and i will get back to my keto dietician.
I will come back and share her take on it…

(Joey) #17

Good luck and please do keep us posted. Even if your experience is unique it might be helpful to someone else down the road. :+1:

#18

Thanks for pointing out that you wrote it above, what you actually wrote was this though

I see I’m not the only person who read it that way. When you say you take a medication, then specify a dosage, it’s typically going to be assumed that’s the dosage per tab because that’s how medications are typically labeled. Have a great day.

#19

Thanks Joey, will definitely get back with the explanation when I locate it, so anyone else searching for this info can find it. I am hyoothesizing it is something to do with my insulin levels (very insulin resistant/type 2 in remission with ketyo).
I have no illusions that I am unique! :grinning:

#20

At the risk of also seeming to be pedantic…read 9 posts up…

(Laurie) #21

I can’t comment on the effects of, or need for, salt. I will say that I hate the taste of it and never add salt when cooking or at the table. If I thought I needed salt, I guess I’d take salt tablets too. Good luck figuring it out.