Weak, dizzy, bloated? Got salt? (Long)

Yesterday morning I was stuck. Literally. I had 0 BMs, despite 2 P&Bs, and what I thought should be ample fluids. Also, the fluids I was drinking were going right through me, straight from the lips to the bladder without any apparently being diverted to the colon. I was staring to feel dizzy, bloated and weak, and had leg cramps at night, and wondered if I needed more water. I also thought that maybe I should quit the fast until my bowels were working better.

I started browsing the archives to see if anyone else had a similar problem, and found a gal who had to go to the ER because she was dehydrated, despite all the water she had been drinking.

That’s when it clicked. I just read F. Batmanghelidj’s Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, and I remembered he said something about when you increase water you should increase salt. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, because I normally salt my food, and was sure I was getting enough. But, since I started the B&Ps, I am not taking in any salt at all, so thought I should double check what he said.

Sooooo, Dr. Batman says, and I quote, “The precaution to keep in mind is loss of salt from the body when water intake is increased and salt intake is not.” See page 161 of his book for a thorough discussion of the need for salt. He also says that low salt can cause or lead to condition that cause or contribute to, among other things, damaged DNS, osteoporosis, depression, etc.

Dr. B has developed a rule of thumb for daily salt intake. For every 10 glasses of water one should add to the diet about a half teaspoon of slat per day. He also cautions that if you start swelling (skin and ankles) to reduce the salt and increase the water until the swelling disappears.

With that in mind, I put about a quarter teaspoon in a big glass of water with a splash of lemon and drank it down. Before bed, I put a pinch of salt on my tongue (helps you sleep according to the doctor).

This morning—back in business. I already had 2 BMs, and it is only 8:45.

Does everyone need extra salt? Dunno. Maybe not, if: 1) there is more ambient salt in the water they are using, 2) if their blood was saltier to begin with, 3) if they are getting enough salt from the flushes, or 4) if their baseline salt need is lower.

So I am going to add a fat pinch of salt to all of my lemonades and only if I start retaining water will I cut back. Heck, if it’s hot today, I might even pull out my blender and put some salt on the rim of my glass for a lemonade margarita.