Why is detoxification impossible without a large amount of salt?

How sodium participates in toxin elimination

Sodium — is the main extracellular cation, playing a key role in:

• maintaining osmotic pressure,
• regulating extracellular fluid volume,
• reabsorption and secretion in the kidneys,
• functioning of sodium-dependent transporters, including those involved in detoxification.

When there is enough sodium in the body, the kidneys freely regulate the excretion of excess and harmful substances, including toxins, thanks to complete filtration and active transport.

What happens in sodium deficiency

If sodium is deficient, the following occurs:

1. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)  → This leads to increased sodium reabsorption in the kidneys to conserve it.
2. Along with sodium, water is reabsorbed — and with it, dissolved toxins that the body has already tried to eliminate.
3. Low sodium levels also reduce the total volume of extracellular fluid, which decreases diuresis (urination). This leads to the stagnation of metabolites and toxins.
4. In chronic sodium deficiency (hyponatremia), even water-type intoxication is possible, when toxins are not eliminated and intracellular edema increases.

Why adequate sodium levels help eliminate toxins

• Sodium participates in the "transport capture" mechanism — it is necessary for the functioning of many active transporters in the kidneys, liver, and intestines that capture toxins and excrete them with urine or bile.
• An adequate amount of sodium provides the osmotic gradient necessary for urine production and the removal of soluble metabolites.
• Sodium indirectly supports normal liver function — it affects bile synthesis and the activity of sodium-dependent proteins involved in binding and excreting toxins.

Conclusion

Adequate sodium intake — is a necessary condition for effective detoxification. The optimal intake is 2.5-3.5 grams of sodium per day. This is equivalent to 6-9 grams of table salt.

In sodium deficiency, the kidneys, trying to conserve sodium, begin to reabsorb everything indiscriminately — including toxins, ammonium, urea, and even glycation products. This worsens the overall condition, leads to edema, chronic fatigue, and intoxication.

That is why salt-free or severely salt-restricted diets are dangerous in diseases related to detoxification disorders: liver failure, chronic fatigue, edema, skin rashes, and also in cases of high inflammation levels.