I’ve come to understand that the reason humans shouldn’t drink seawater is that it requires more water to get rid of that salt through urine. But if salt is a necessary nutrient, why would the body need to get rid of it at all? If your body were low on salt, what it be good for you to drink seawater?
Edit: added follow-up hypothetical question
In: Biology
As far as I know it is mainly because the amount of salt differs. You have a body salt percentage of about 0.9%. Sea water has a salt percentage of about 1.5%(?).
It’s more than your body needs or can handle and so the “overdose” needs to be getten rid of. Your body does that by washing out what’s to much. And that’s pretty much why drinking sea water dehydrates you.
Please correct me, if I am mistaken in any way.
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