What will happen if we will not eat salt?

December 6, 2025 •

4 min read

While excessive salt intake is often linked to heart problems, drastically reducing it can also be harmful, a risk many people underestimate. Understanding what will happen if we will not eat salt is crucial, as the body relies on sodium for vital functions like nerve and muscle activity.

Quick Summary

Eliminating salt completely from your diet can lead to dangerous health conditions such as hyponatremia, low blood pressure, and metabolic disruption. The body needs a minimum level of sodium to function properly, so a balanced intake is essential for overall health.

Key Points

Hyponatremia Risk: Eliminating salt can cause low blood sodium (hyponatremia), which may lead to headaches, confusion, and even seizures or coma in severe cases.
Low Blood Pressure: Insufficient sodium intake can lead to low blood volume and a drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness, fatigue, and lightheadedness.
Electrolyte Imbalance: Sodium is crucial for nerve impulses and muscle contractions; a lack can cause painful muscle cramps, weakness, and impaired nerve function.
Metabolic and Hormonal Disruption: Very low sodium levels can trigger hormonal imbalances and potentially increase insulin resistance, affecting metabolism and energy levels.
The Need for Moderation: Instead of total elimination, focusing on a moderate intake and reducing consumption of processed foods is the safest approach, as a balanced amount is essential for health.

The Body's Critical Need for Sodium

Sodium, a key component of salt, is an essential electrolyte that plays a fundamental role in maintaining several bodily functions. The misconception that all salt is bad often leads people to consider extreme reductions, but doing so disregards the body's dependence on this vital mineral. The kidneys carefully regulate sodium levels to keep the body's fluid balance in check. When this balance is disrupted, a cascade of health issues can arise. A minimum daily intake is required for survival, and a balanced, whole-food diet is the best way to ensure this need is met.

Fluid Balance and Blood Pressure

Sodium helps regulate the fluid volume inside and outside your cells. When sodium levels drop too low, blood volume can shrink, leading to low blood pressure (hypotension). This can cause symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue, especially when standing up quickly. Maintaining the proper fluid balance is essential for the cardiovascular system to function effectively. Severe dehydration is another risk, as the body loses both water and electrolytes through sweat.

Nerve and Muscle Function

Electrical impulses in the body, which are necessary for muscle and nerve function, rely on the proper balance of sodium and other electrolytes. Without enough sodium, these electrical signals can be impaired, leading to various issues. These can range from minor discomfort to serious neurological problems.

The Dangers of Sodium Deprivation

Removing salt from your diet entirely can lead to a condition known as hyponatremia, where blood sodium levels fall dangerously low. The body tries to compensate by releasing hormones to retain sodium, but this is a temporary fix. Chronic deprivation puts significant stress on the body and can lead to severe health complications. The side effects of a no-salt diet extend beyond just electrolyte imbalance and affect metabolic and hormonal health as well.

Condition: Hyponatremia

Hyponatremia is characterized by abnormally low sodium levels in the blood, defined as below 135 mEq/L. Symptoms vary depending on the severity and can include:

Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle weakness, cramps, or spasms
Fatigue and lethargy
Confusion, irritability, and restlessness
In severe cases, seizures, coma, or brain swelling can occur.

Consequences for Cardiovascular Health

Beyond low blood pressure, a very low sodium diet can cause other issues for the cardiovascular system. Some studies suggest a link between a low-sodium diet and increased levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which can raise the risk of heart disease. For individuals with specific heart conditions, a low-sodium diet has even been linked to an increased risk of death, though this is a subject of ongoing debate and depends on individual circumstances.

Other Serious Side Effects

Inadequate sodium intake can also disrupt metabolic and hormonal processes. A restrictive diet can lead to insulin resistance, making cells less responsive to insulin and potentially increasing blood sugar levels. Furthermore, the adrenal glands have to work harder to maintain balance, releasing hormones like renin, aldosterone, and cortisol, which can disrupt normal hormone levels and worsen fatigue. A prolonged strain on the body's regulatory systems is simply not sustainable.

High Salt vs. No Salt: A Comparison


Feature	High Salt Intake (Over 2300mg)	No Salt Intake (Below 500mg)
Blood Pressure	Increased risk of high blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular issues.	Risk of low blood pressure (hypotension), causing dizziness and fatigue.
Fluid Balance	Water retention, leading to bloating and edema.	Dehydration due to loss of water and electrolytes, especially with sweat.
Cardiovascular Risk	Higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.	Potential increase in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, controversial for heart disease risk.
Electrolyte Balance	Excessive sodium puts strain on kidneys and heart.	Can lead to hyponatremia and life-threatening imbalances.
Symptoms	Bloating, thirst, increased urination, heart strain.	Headaches, confusion, muscle cramps, fatigue, and nausea.

Conclusion: The Path to Moderation

While the health benefits of reducing excessive salt intake are well-documented, completely eliminating it is dangerous and unnecessary. The body requires a moderate amount of sodium to function properly, and the lowest risk of health issues is found somewhere in the middle of the intake spectrum. Most people get the majority of their sodium from processed and packaged foods, not from the salt shaker. By focusing on a diet rich in whole foods and using herbs, spices, and lemon juice for flavor, you can naturally reduce your intake while still getting the small, vital amount of sodium your body needs. For those with medical conditions, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate sodium level for your individual needs.

For more information on salt and health, you can consult sources like the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary danger is developing hyponatremia, a condition of dangerously low blood sodium levels, which can cause severe neurological and physical symptoms, including confusion, seizures, and coma.

A very low-salt diet can lead to low blood pressure (hypotension) because sodium helps regulate blood volume. This can cause symptoms like dizziness, fainting, and fatigue.

Yes, sodium is an essential electrolyte for proper nerve and muscle function. Without enough, nerve impulses can be impaired, leading to muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms.

Yes, sodium is a critical electrolyte. Severely restricting salt intake can disrupt the body's electrolyte balance, which is vital for many physiological processes.

Yes, low sodium intake can lead to fatigue and low energy. This is partly due to the body's hormonal systems working harder to conserve sodium and disruptions to metabolic processes.

While recommendations vary, health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend less than 5 grams of salt (2000 mg of sodium) per day for adults, which is still a moderate amount, not zero.

The best approach is moderation. Focus on a diet of fresh, whole foods, which contain natural sodium, and season your own food sparingly. Avoid the high, hidden salt content in processed and packaged foods.

In extreme and rare cases, severe hyponatremia resulting from very low sodium levels can be fatal, especially if it leads to brain swelling or other serious complications.