Balancing Electrolytes, Blood Pressure and Sole Water Recipe

Balancing electrolytes on a meat-based ketogenic diet

As discussed in my Do we Need Salt blog post, most sodium in the body is found in the blood and lymph fluid. One way that sodium levels are controlled in the body is by a hormone released by the adrenals called aldosterone. The aldosterone amounts tell the kidneys to hold onto sodium instead of removing it from the body (e.g., urine or sweat).

Sodium is found in many foods, such as meats and vegetables. It also is in baking soda, in the form of sodium bicarbonate. Sodium is also in aspirin, laxatives, toothpaste and mouthwash.

Having the right balance of fluid (electrolytes) in the blood is important. Too little or too much can grow or shrink the cell’s structures and cause damage to the body’s nerves and muscles. This is why sodium imbalances can lead to adverse complications such as blood pressure fluctuations and brain swelling.

Yes, brain swelling.

So why do we need salt again?

We need salt. In Carnivore Cure, I talk about how too little salt has shown to cause insulin resistance. Our blood and tissues have life-giving salt. (If you want, taste your blood next time).