Seawater: how to drink it to take advantage of its benefits

That taking sea baths is good for your health, we already know that. As well as we know that thermal baths benefit the body and are especially recommended for the relief of certain rheumatic diseases. But that drinking sea water can improve our health, even facilitating weight loss, is an absolute novelty, although the study of the healing properties of ocean water had already taken dozens of scientists sleep since times immemorial

Those who deepened the subject were the doctors María Alejandra Rodríguez Zía and María Teresa Ilari Valentí and the lawyer Mariano Arnal Arnal, authors of the book “The water of the sea”, by Fundación Aquamaris. Here, specialists explain why sea water is one of the most complete liquids on the planet, how it should be drunk to achieve the healing effects and, finally, all the conditions that can be treated with this drink.

The difference with table salt

“The water of the oceans is composed of 96.5% water (H2O) and 3.5% of minerals that, evaporated 96.5% of H2O, become salts,” explains Dr. María Teresa Ilari Valentí , Internal Medicine Specialist and Director of the Santo Domingo Clinic in Managua, which has used seawater for therapeutic purposes.

It also contains chlorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, potassium, bromine, strontium, fluorine iron, manganese, copper, silica, iodine and phosphorus, among other minerals.

“The term común common salt’ applies to the salt obtained from the mines in the earth and to the salt obtained by desiccation on the coasts, ”says the doctor. And he adds: “It is necessary to clarify that this salt, washed, refined and additive, has nothing to do with seawater whose flavor is due to the combination of all the aforementioned elements, among which the salty flavor predominates sodium ion (Na), which in the oceans is dissociated from chlorine; they are separate molecules. ”

What is seawater used for?

– Joint pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, myalgia and fibromyalgia, osteoporosis: for rheumatism-type joint conditions, mineral-medicinal hot springs have been traditionally recommended in Europe, both in bathrooms and in intake. Seawater, whose mineral composition is the sum of all other mineral-medicinal waters, has demonstrated superior efficacy in the treatment of these pathologies.

– Diabetes, obesity: In the same way that thirst is determined not only by the lack of water, but also by the lack of minerals, so also in the mechanisms that regulate the level of satiety, the balance of minerals in the intake is decisive. Therefore, one of the simplest mechanisms to control food anxiety is to provide enough minerals by adding seawater.

“Everything points, and with increasing determination, that the intake of seawater in the ways that our palate best accepts and appreciates, can be one of the most powerful tools that help us fight against obesity and against hypertension and the diabetes that accompanies it, ”says Dr. María Alejandra Rodríguez Zía in the Aquamaris Foundation book.

– Purifying and regulating the digestive system (detoxifying, purgative, laxative): Seawater allows the body to be cleansed by a waste carryover mechanism, by a laxative response that manifests itself through diarrhea, which is the first expression of purification. Here is an excellent remedy for constipation: ingesting seawater in a limited period of time. In this case the quantity is important; but always with caution (maximum half a liter of hypertonic, if evacuation is not achieved).

– Bronchial asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), pneumonia: Obviously, the most indicated for these conditions is to go to the shore to breathe the water mist by the waves (the sea breeze). But since it is not always possible for everyone to resort to this remedy, technology has helped us through the creation of artificial nebulizers, which can include seawater.

– Renal conditions (oliguria or poor urination, kidney stones, urinary tract infections): the intake of seawater along with abundant fluids, helps the expulsion of stones and the remission of other kidney conditions. There should be adequate control of ingested and eliminated in the case of oliguria due to renal failure.

– Canker sores and tooth decay: In the dental specialty, seawater is an auxiliary as effective as the best toothpastes.

How to drink seawater

Learning to drink seawater should be done little by little. The ways to prepare and drink it will depend on the therapeutic or nutritional purpose pursued. The administration of seawater by mouth can have two formats:

– Isotonic seawater: It is the sea water that has the same salinity as our body. It is prepared with three parts of drinking water and one of seawater in a liter. It can be used as drinking water, or added to natural juices and infusions.

– Hypertonic sea water: Water is called hypertonic that has a higher salinity level or "tone" than ours. Hypertonic seawater corresponds to pure, undiluted seawater. It is used as a regulator of intestinal transit, purgative and digestive. Before meals, it is taken to reduce hunger and anxiety. It can also be used as a toothpaste or as rinses in the oral cavity and for topical treatments in the form of a bath or dressing. In the kitchen, it serves to salt food.

Have you tried drinking seawater? Share your experience in the comments.