Sea salt to energise while fasting?

[kdemos]

Hi all. I’m on day 5 of a fast (water, bone broth and black coffee), and I’m feeling a bit… fatigued… Wondering if taking a bit of Himalayan sea salt might help? I’ve heard Megan Ramos (Keto Talk) advocate this, but I’m a bit weary of retaining salt… last night my ankles and legs were a bit swollen. Not sure the cause of this… But I’d like to do a couple more days of my fast, but with a bit more energy. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[wheeghee]

Take the salt. You need salt. Listen to 2KetoDudes e71, The Salt Fix.

[kdemos]

Thanks @wheeghee. I’ll have a listen to that episode. Thanks. Just thought I should eliminate the salt because of my swollen legs/ankles. But thought I need the salt for the minerals and energy. Confused…

[Shalmar]

Take the salt regularly. Better energy and no hunger. After listening saltfix I add to black coffee and tea- improves a bad cup substantially!

[kcfricke]

I have had problems with fluid retention for 30+ years. Since hearing the episode on salt on 2 keto dudes and reading the book I’m eating a ton more salt and the swelling is better as well as a minor heart arrythmia is gone. The whole low salt myth is not based on science, just an old wives tale passed down by generations of health care professionals. I find carbs hold way more water.

[collaroygal]

I have had problems with fluid retention for 30+ years. Since hearing the episode on salt on 2 keto dudes and reading the book I’m eating a ton more salt and the swelling is better as well as a minor heart arrythmia is gone. The whole low salt myth is not based on science, just an old wives tale passed down by generations of health care professionals. I find carbs hold way more water.

My body is much happier with higher salt, way less water retention than when I was eating lots of bread and other grains as well.

Congrats on losing the minor heart arrythmia condition.

[kdemos]

Thanks @shalmar, @collaroygal and @kcfricke. Appreciate your comments. I listened to that episode, and it was indeed very helpful. I’ve been eating a bit more salt, and I haven’t had swelling, so maybe that was the problem. I’m on day 8 of my fast and feeling great. Hope to go 10 days total. Have a great day, everyone.

[JustPeachy]

…I add to black coffee and tea- improves a bad cup substantially!

Back 30 odd years ago when I was taught to make drip coffee, I was instructed to add a couple of pinches of salt on top of the grounds before brewing because it improves the flavor! It really does work.

[kdemos]

@shalmar That’s so cool, @JustPeachy . Never heard that, and I will definitely try that tomorrow morning. I live in Spain and use an Italian “mocca”, so it’s easy to sprinkle the grounds with a bit of sea salt.

I’m on day 8 of my fast and going strong.

[OldDoug]

Back 30 odd years ago when I was taught to make drip coffee, I was instructed to add a couple of pinches of salt on top of the grounds before brewing because it improves the flavor! It really does work.

“Navy coffee” is what I first heard that described as, and the exact same thing - “a couple pinches of salt” on top, before brewing. I was too young at the time to be drinking coffee, but it really does take away some or all of the bitterness.

50 years ago, there was an old guy who lived on the corner of our street, and we kids would often cut through his yard, since it was shorter than staying on the sidewalk. This made a path in his grass, and he’d yell at us if he was outside. He’d often be on his front porch through those days of summer that now seem endless. His yelling made me want to do it all the more, and I’d zoom through on my bicycle, delighting in the speed and my wickedness.

One day he was just coming out the door, and he really yelled, yelled like it was a mortal wound. Usually I’d have attempted some swearing with false bravado or come up with a mature, reasoned response like giving him the finger, but that day I stopped and talked to him. Part of it was wondering just what he’d do.

He was right, of course - I was just doing it to be bad. He calmed down fast, and I could see that he was really a good guy. I sat with him on his porch. World War I veteran, had been in the Navy, on a destroyer over in England. “It was rough,” he said. A rolling ship, high winds, cold, harsh seas - he made a warm, slightly salty brew sound good. “Navy coffee.”

There I was, 7 or 8 years old, and he seemed almost ancient, but he lived 20+ years after that. I went back in 1990, and he’d just died - he would have been well into his 90s. Changing times - he was the last person I knew who was born in the 1800s, and just this past April an Italian woman died; the last person on earth born in that century. I do like coffee and salt.

[Helewisa]

I just love this story, thank for sharing it Doug.
Pinch of sea salt goes into my mouth at least 6 to 10x/day! Now I am definitely going to be adding it to my decaf.
Decaf!!! Yes, that’s right, I’m trying to cut my cortisol, and have had to resort to make believe coffee, but I am not willing to stop all together. So, maybe the salt will be a psychological boost as well ( Wow, this “coffee” is sooooooooooo good! ) Mwahahahahaha!
Thank for the reminiscing. I love our elderly and care for so many as a home health RN, their stories are amazing…