There are some strange health fads out there, but a ‘sole’ water detox is probably the strangest. Sole water (pronounced so-lay) is the latest health trend sensation, encouraging people to consume natural saline water. It’s claimed that sole water supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself, but is it really healthy?

What is the Sole Water Detox?

Sole is not made with any old salt. It must be natural salts such as pink salt, sourced from the hills of the Himalayas. Some studies have suggested that small amounts of salt in our diet may be beneficial in helping regulate blood pressure. However, too much salt will do the opposite. It is also claimed that drinking saline water can detoxify our bodies by flushing our system of impurities. Drinking a mixture of warm water and natural salt can have a laxative effect, allegedly clearing blemished skin and aiding weight loss. Advocates of the sole water health trend suggest drinking it first thing in the morning, when your stomach is empty.

What Health Experts Say

Nutritionists and health experts seem to be divided on the consumption of sole water. Sole advocates argue that it has huge health benefits if consumed in small amounts, aiding digestion, sleep and reducing blood sugar. Doctor Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Prize winner says:

“You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency. Minerals are the foundation to sound nutrition and health. Without them, no other system in the body works as it should. Amino acids and enzymes don’t work with a lack of vital minerals. Then, our vitamins and other nutrients do not get broken down or absorbed.  Because of our depleted soil and highly refined diet, mineral deficiencies are more common than ever. Sole, made with mineral-rich salt, is a good source of vital minerals. These include barium, bismuth, chromium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, titanium and B2 trace minerals.”

Some of the sole water claims seem to contradict the things we know. One of the most unusual claims is that saline water could reduce high blood pressure. This sounds surprising, as the effects of salt on blood pressure are very well documented. Salt is scientifically proven to dramatically increase blood pressure. Blood Pressure UK say this is because salt makes your kidneys want to hold on to more water. The stored water increases blood pressure, putting a strain on you heart, brain, arteries and kidneys.

Another wild claim is that sole helps keep your body hydrated. However, excess salt in the body makes kidneys work harder as it can only process a limited quantity daily.  The more salt in your body, the more water is needed to flush it out. Salt will disrupt the body’s ability to regulate water concentrations of the cells. The human body is 70% water, but much of it is lost through respiration and excreting toxins. We need to keep our water levels topped up regularly so that our bodies work properly.

Too much salt makes high water concentration seem much lower, which can cause water to flow from cells into the bloodstream.  Also drinking salt water on an empty stomach can cause nausea and vomiting.

Overall health experts do not recommend drinking sole. It’s best to just stick to plain water.