Salt Questions · Health & nutrition
Does drinking water flush out excess sodium?
Short answer
Partly. Your kidneys, not the water itself, remove excess sodium, but they need enough fluid to do it. Drinking water when you're thirsty helps your body excrete extra salt over the following day or so. Drinking huge amounts doesn't speed this up much, and too much water can lower blood sodium dangerously.
The kidneys do the work; water helps, but more isn't faster
How sodium leaves the body
Healthy kidneys adjust how much sodium they excrete in urine to match what you eat. After a salty meal you feel thirsty, drink, and your kidneys gradually excrete the extra sodium, mostly within a day or two.
What helps
- Drink to thirst: enough water to stay hydrated supports the kidneys.
- Potassium-rich foods: fruit, vegetables, beans and yogurt help the kidneys excrete sodium.
- Activity: sweating removes some sodium too.
What doesn't
Forcing down litres of extra water won't flush salt out faster, and drinking extreme amounts can cause hyponatremia, a dangerous drop in blood sodium. The best fix is simply eating less salt the next day.
Related on The Salt Almanac
More health & nutrition questions
- What is the recommended daily intake of salt for adults?
- How does salt affect blood pressure?
- Is pink Himalayan salt actually healthier than white salt?
- What are the best low-sodium salt substitutes?
- Why do athletes need to consume more salt?
- Does sea salt have less sodium than table salt?
Cite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Does drinking water flush out excess sodium. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/does-drinking-water-flush-out-excess-sodium
“Does drinking water flush out excess sodium.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/answers/does-drinking-water-flush-out-excess-sodium. Accessed [today's date].
“Does drinking water flush out excess sodium.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/does-drinking-water-flush-out-excess-sodium.
Original sources
- Mayo Clinic. Sodium: how to tame your salt habit. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/sodium/art-20045479
- Cleveland Clinic. How potassium can help lower blood pressure. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/potassium-lower-blood-pressure
- Mayo Clinic. Hyponatremia: symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711