Category: Emergency

While starchy foods are a healthy part of a balanced diet, ingesting raw or isolated starch powder is an entirely different matter that can cause serious health issues. This guide explains what happens if you drink starch, distinguishing between the ingestion of cooking and laundry-grade versions.

According to the World Health Organization, the global mean intake of salt is more than double the recommended amount. When you eat a lot of salt by itself, your body's delicate balance of fluids and electrolytes is severely disrupted, leading to both immediate and potentially life-threatening consequences.

According to NOAA, drinking seawater to maintain hydration is counterproductive because human kidneys cannot produce urine saltier than seawater. The resulting salt poisoning, or hypernatremia, can lead to severe and potentially fatal consequences, making it crucial to understand the symptoms of too much seawater.

According to chemical experts, pure, metallic sodium reacts violently and exothermically with water, making it extremely dangerous to ingest. A person asking, "what will happen if I drink sodium?" needs to understand the critical difference between elemental sodium and the ionic sodium found in table salt, as the former causes instant and severe chemical burns, while the latter can lead to salt poisoning if consumed in excess. This article explains the catastrophic consequences of ingesting pure sodium metal and the very different dangers of excessive dietary sodium.

While severe salt poisoning is rare, a large, acute intake can lead to serious health complications, with early symptoms like extreme thirst and nausea potentially appearing within hours. The timeline for salt poisoning, also known as hypernatremia, can vary significantly depending on the amount of salt ingested and the individual's hydration status. Immediate awareness of the progression of this condition is crucial for prompt medical intervention.

For healthy adults with access to water, survival without food can extend for weeks; however, a malnourished person can go without food for a far shorter and more dangerous period, as their body lacks the essential reserves needed to cope. This makes even short periods of fasting a severe medical risk.