The Health Benefits Of Salt Water

The term salt water, also known as "saline water," simply defines the mixture of water and salt. In the human body, the sodium component of salt serves as the main balancer of the environment inside and outside each living cell. Thus, sodium plays an essential role in the body's functions, including the absorption and transport of nutrients across cell membranes and maintenance of blood pressure and blood volume. Furthermore, it also maintains the individual cell's membrane potential, the electronic charge difference inside and outside the cell, thereby making each of these cells more responsive to any given electric stimulus.

Essential Component of an Athlete's Diet

Salt water plays an essential role in an athlete's diet, according to a study conducted in Sanford Sports Medicine in South Dakota and published in the July 2007 issue of "Current Sports Medicine Reports." Athletes have high sweat rate making them prone to losing more water and sodium than most people do. Fluid replacement is a must to prevent dehydration during an intense physical activity of an athlete. However, fluid deficient in sodium, can result in a reduced amount of sodium in the body. Hyponatremia, or decreased sodium levels within the body, may cause heat cramps and decreased physical performance.

Wound Cleansing

Most surgeons see the normal saline solution, which is sterile water mixed with 0.9 percent of salt, as the most appropriate cleansing solution for wounds, explains a study published in the 2006 issue of the "Journal of Athletic Training." The normal saline solution serves as a nontoxic wound cleanser that does not damage the healing tissues of the wound, thus encouraging the regrowth and repair of normal tissues.

Oral Cleanser

Many dentists use saline water as a cleanser for wounds within the oral cavity. Cleansing with saline water removes any foreign body, bacteria or any dirt that may enter the damaged oral tissue and cause potential infection to the wound.

Nasal Spray and Irrigation

Saline solution may also be used as spray or irrigation for the nose. Saline sprays can keep the nasal area moist particularly during the winter time when the environment becomes cold and dry. Dryness of the nasal passages may lead to the crusting of the skin that lies within the nasal area, which may possibly result in the development of bacterial infection. Saline irrigation, on the other hand, can be used to flush large mucus plugs for better nasal clearance. Large mucus plugs, if not removed, may cause difficulty breathing.