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April 28, 2023
In today’s newsletter, I’m going to teach you why a morning salt shot helps to energize you.
Over the past 5 years or so, my morning salt shot has become more indispensable to me even than my morning cup (or two) of coffee. It is a crucial part of my recipe for an energetic, clear-headed morning.
I used to feel very sluggish after waking up, to the extent that I could barely even function until I had at least one cup of coffee in my system. I could hardly think, let alone have a conversation with my husband (he learned this the hard way after we got married!).
Several things changed, so I’m not going to claim that a salt shot is a miracle solution. But it is a crucial part of my routine that now allows me to wake up clear-headed and (for the most part) with great energy…all before my first cup of coffee.
However, most people are completely unaware of the benefit that is waiting for them at the other side of a glass of salt water. They reach first for stimulants, especially caffeine, to wake them up and shake off morning grogginess.
Even for people who have a dim idea that perhaps they should hydrate first thing in the morning, they associate “hydration” with simply “drinking water.” However, water is only one part of the hydration equation - electrolytes are the other.
If you’re getting good sleep each night and still waking up sluggish and groggy, salt just might be the cure for what ails you.
Here’s what you need to know:
Sodium is essential for optimal energy production.
Starting the day with salt water can help you feel your best.
Salt for energy production
Salt - specifically, sodium - is crucial to almost every inner working of your body. Without it, the biochemical processes that are continually occurring inside you wouldn’t hum along quite as smoothly.
The reason for this lies in something known as the “sodium-potassium pump.” Simply put, this is an exchange of sodium and potassium ions that occurs within your cells. It’s a crucial step in the process of generating energy and getting that energy where it needs to go. If you’re interested in learning more, Khan Academy is a great place to start.
But here’s the most important thing you need to know. Electrolytes - specifically sodium and potassium - are both essential for optimal energy production in your body. They don’t themselves contain potential energy, as the macronutrients (especially fat and carbs) do, but without them that potential energy wouldn’t be transformed into usable energy.
As Robb Wolf (biochemist and electrolyte expert) explains, “The [sodium-potassium] pump dictates both how and when a nerve impulse fires. It enables the transmission of electrochemical signals that tell your heart to beat, your bicep to curl, and your neurons to receive and interpret sensory data.”
Simply put - in order for your muscles to contract, your brain to think, or your heart to beat, you need electrolytes.
There are many other ways that electrolyte intake indirectly influences your energy levels (for example, low thyroid has been linked to low electrolyte status), but the sodium-potassium pump is a huge piece of the puzzle.
How to start your day with a salt shot
After you wake up in the morning, your body is in a mildly dehydrated state. Most people would counteract this by drinking a plain glass of water (or skipping the water and going straight to a cup of coffee), but as we’ve learned, water is only one side of the hydration equation. Adding salt to your morning glass of water is a game-changer.
So how do you do it?
The simplest way is to mix 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of high-quality salt into a glass of water and drink it like you would a shot of vodka. It’s like drinking ocean water, so I like to follow the salt shot up with a glass of plain water. Start small with this - it can cause diarrhea if your digestive system is not used to it! You can always sip it slowly, or start with smaller amounts of salt and work your way up to at least 1/4 teaspoon.
Another way (my preferred method) is to make a jar of Sole water (learn how to make it here). Sole water is just very concentrated salt water, but you do need to make it ahead of time. Once it’s ready, add anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon of it to a glass of water. It’s a much less salty taste than adding the salt directly to your glass of water, so it’s a little more palatable.
Either way, it’s a simple experiment to run. If you’re used to waking up groggy, try adding salt water to your morning routine for a week. See if you notice a difference. If you do, I hope you enjoy your newfound energy and mental clarity in the mornings, and put it to good use!
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