TV doctor Amir Khan has issued a warning to people taking sodium and potassium as supplements, saying there are only two occasions when they should be taken. The NHS GP spoke out as a growing number of people have started adding salt to their drinking water.
Social media wellness trends claim that adding salt to water improves hydration, boosts digestion and helps detox the body. Dr Khan, who regularly appears on ITV shows Lorraine and This Morning, addressed the craze on the No Appointment Podcast.
Most people have normal levels
Dr Khan said that almost everyone he tests has perfectly normal levels of sodium and potassium in their blood. He explained: “I must file about between 50 and 60 people’s blood results every single day. And two of the things that are always on a kidney function blood test is a sodium and a potassium. Two really common electrolytes. And people are adding salt to water to make themselves hydrate.
“Unless people, in my experience, bearing in mind I’m filing this many blood results a day, unless they have a medical problem like a heart problem, a kidney problem, a liver problem, or they’re on medication that affects their electrolyte, the vast majority of people that I file those blood results have normal sodium and potassium levels.”
Body balances electrolytes naturally
He explained that the body is good at balancing the levels, making extra supplementation unnecessary. He said: “Normal because your body your kidneys are so good at balancing those things out. They are and I know anecdotal evidence isn’t evidence but the evidence overall is healthy normal people who are not exercising lots who haven’t got diarrhoea or vomiting don’t have a medical condition don’t need to add electrolytes to their food.
“That’s what the study shows and that is what my everyday experience shows. So unless you’re a sweaty Betty gym exerciser or you’ve got the runs and you’re a bit Yeah. Or perhaps a heart condition or a kidney condition. Don’t need them every day.”
Dietitians warn of health risks
Dietitians and health organizations state that most people already get far more sodium than they need from their regular diet. The British Dietetic Association said that consuming too much sodium can raise blood pressure, strain the kidneys, and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. For people who are not sweating heavily or doing intense endurance exercise, plain water and a balanced diet provide all the hydration and electrolytes required.
