Should I Eat More Salt If My Sodium Is Low? The Critical Answer

October 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, while excessive sodium is a global health concern, intentionally increasing salt intake to self-treat low levels is generally inadvisable and potentially dangerous. The question, 'Should I eat more salt if my sodium is low?', is complex and requires medical guidance to avoid severe health complications.

Quick Summary

This article explains the medical reasons behind low sodium levels (hyponatremia) and the significant risks of self-treating with extra salt. It details the common underlying causes, safe and medically-approved treatment options, and why expert consultation is essential for restoring proper electrolyte balance.

Key Points

Hyponatremia is Complex: Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) is often caused by an imbalance of water relative to sodium, not simply a lack of dietary salt.
Self-Treatment is Dangerous: Increasing salt intake without a medical diagnosis can lead to severe health issues, including the risk of Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS) if levels are corrected too quickly.
Underlying Causes are Key: Hyponatremia is frequently a symptom of other medical conditions, such as heart, kidney, or liver disease, certain medications, or excessive fluid intake.
Medical Guidance is Non-Negotiable: Proper treatment depends on the cause and should be managed by a healthcare professional through methods like fluid restriction, IV fluids, or medication adjustment.
Know the Emergency Signs: Symptoms like severe confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness require immediate medical attention.
Dietary Adjustments are Doctor-Approved: If medically appropriate, dietary changes may involve incorporating specific sodium-rich foods in a controlled manner, not just adding table salt.

Understanding Hyponatremia: Beyond Simple Salt Intake

Hyponatremia is the medical term for low blood sodium levels, defined as a serum sodium concentration below 135 mEq/L. It is the most common electrolyte disorder and is often not caused by insufficient dietary salt. Instead, it usually stems from an imbalance of water relative to sodium in the body, where the total body water is excessive compared to the total sodium content. This can lead to cells swelling with too much water, a particularly dangerous effect on sensitive brain cells.

In most cases, the body's kidneys are highly efficient at retaining the small amount of sodium needed for vital functions, making dietary deficiency an unlikely cause for healthy individuals. Low sodium is typically a symptom of another, more serious medical issue or lifestyle factor.

Common Causes of Low Sodium Levels

Medical Conditions: Conditions like congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and kidney disease can cause the body to retain fluids, diluting the sodium concentration. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), which causes the body to retain water, is another key cause.
Medications: Certain drugs, including water pills (diuretics), antidepressants (SSRIs), and some pain medications, can interfere with the body's sodium regulation.
Excessive Water Intake: Overconsumption of plain water, especially during endurance sports like marathons, can overwhelm the kidneys' ability to excrete water, leading to dangerously diluted sodium levels.
Fluid Loss: Severe and chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or extensive burns can cause the body to lose both sodium and water, with the sodium loss often being greater.
Hormonal Changes: Adrenal gland insufficiency (Addison's disease) and low thyroid hormone levels can disrupt the body's balance of sodium and water.

The Dangers of Self-Treating with Salt

Attempting to correct low sodium by simply consuming more salt is highly risky and can lead to severe complications. For someone with an underlying condition like heart or kidney failure, increasing salt intake can exacerbate their disease. The most significant danger, however, comes from correcting sodium levels too quickly, which is a key risk of over-consumption.

Rapid correction of chronic hyponatremia can lead to a devastating neurological condition called Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS), which can cause permanent brain damage, paralysis, and even death. This is why medical supervision is non-negotiable for safe sodium restoration.

The Medically-Guided Path to Safe Sodium Restoration

The correct treatment for hyponatremia depends entirely on the underlying cause, severity, and duration of the condition. A doctor will typically perform blood and urine tests to determine the best course of action.

Common medical interventions include:

Fluid Restriction: For cases involving excess body water (like SIADH or hypervolemic hyponatremia), limiting fluid intake is the primary treatment.
Intravenous (IV) Therapy: In severe or acute cases, a healthcare professional will administer a sodium solution intravenously to slowly and safely raise blood sodium levels while monitoring for complications.
Medication Adjustments: Your doctor may adjust or switch diuretics or other medications that are contributing to the low sodium.
Treating Underlying Conditions: Addressing the root cause, such as kidney, heart, or liver disease, is crucial for long-term correction of sodium levels.
Dietary Strategies (under medical guidance): In some specific cases, a doctor might recommend dietary adjustments. This is different from blindly adding salt to every meal. It involves strategically incorporating naturally sodium-rich foods.

Dietary Strategies for Medically-Approved Sodium Increase

For mild cases or specific conditions where diet plays a role, a doctor may advise a modest increase in sodium-rich foods. These should be balanced and nutrient-dense options rather than relying on heavily processed snacks.

Naturally Salty Foods: Include olives, cheeses like feta or parmesan, and natural seafood.
Fermented Foods: Sauerkraut and kimchi, fermented with salt, can provide both sodium and gut-healthy probiotics.
Broths and Soups: Canned broths and soups are often high in sodium and can be a good source if medically approved.
Salted Snacks (in moderation): Items like salted nuts and seeds can be an option, but focus on the unsalted variety for better control.

Low Sodium vs. High Sodium: Treatment Approaches


Aspect	Low Blood Sodium (Hyponatremia)	High Blood Sodium (Hypernatremia)
Primary Cause	Excessive body water diluting sodium; underlying medical issues; certain meds.	Insufficient water intake relative to sodium; excessive salt intake; dehydration.
Treatment Focus	Correcting the underlying cause and slowly normalizing levels.	Addressing the cause and gradually replacing water deficit; reducing sodium intake.
Dietary Intervention	Controlled incorporation of sodium-rich foods or salt tablets only under strict medical supervision.	Reducing sodium intake and ensuring adequate water consumption.
Key Risk	Rapid correction, which can cause Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS).	Brain damage from rapid shrinkage; depends on underlying cause.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Hyponatremia can become a medical emergency, especially if sodium levels drop rapidly. You should seek immediate emergency care for anyone who exhibits severe symptoms, including:

Severe nausea and vomiting
Headache
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Seizures

For anyone with risk factors (such as being an older adult, taking diuretics, or having heart/kidney conditions) who experiences mild symptoms like lethargy or cramping, contacting a healthcare provider is essential.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Expert Advice for Low Sodium

In conclusion, the decision to eat more salt if your sodium is low is a medical one, not a dietary one. Self-treatment based on a simple feeling of being 'low' is dangerous and overlooks the complex medical reasons behind hyponatremia. A balanced approach involves a proper medical diagnosis to determine the true cause, followed by a carefully managed treatment plan under a doctor's supervision. By prioritizing expert guidance, individuals can safely and effectively address low sodium levels and protect their long-term health.

For more authoritative information on hyponatremia, you can consult sources like the Cleveland Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hyponatremia is a condition where the sodium level in your blood is abnormally low, below 135 mEq/L. It is usually caused by an excess of water in the body relative to the amount of sodium, rather than a lack of salt in the diet.

Self-treating can be dangerous because it risks correcting sodium levels too rapidly, which can lead to Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS), a severe and potentially permanent form of brain damage. The correct treatment depends on the underlying cause, which a doctor must diagnose.

Symptoms of hyponatremia can range from mild, such as headache, fatigue, and nausea, to severe, including confusion, muscle cramps, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Several conditions can cause low sodium, including congestive heart failure, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, hormonal issues (like Addison's disease), and Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).

Yes, some medications can affect sodium levels. These include diuretics (water pills), certain antidepressants, and some pain medications.

The proper treatment depends on the specific cause and must be determined by a doctor. It can involve fluid restriction, IV fluids in severe cases, adjusting medication, or treating the underlying medical condition.

Seek immediate medical care if you or someone you know experiences severe symptoms like seizures, significant confusion, or loss of consciousness. These indicate a rapid drop in sodium that can be life-threatening.