How do you know the difference between sodium and/or potassium deficiencies?

Question

I have muscle leg cramps bad because I have been doing the water cure (drinking lots of water) and I don't know if I have a sodium deficiency or a potassium deficiency or both.

Could someone with some expertise please help. I would greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

How much water are you drinking?  There is such a thing as too much water you know.  It is called water intoxication, basically your electrolytes are diluted, please see a dr and get lab work done,  consume only a normal amount of water,  remember moderation in all things.

Answer 2

if your short on sodium add half teaspoon salt to 1 liter of water and drink that through the day. if your short on potassium eat More bananas other then that you ll have to see your doc

Answer 3

hmm, im not sure but it hink u cat make the difference, because in the human body, sodium is the opposite of potassim un charges and they work together usually...so if u miss 1 the whole renal and nervous system is affected

Answer 4

As I told you yesterday for essentially the same question, the ``water cure`is completely useless, and potentially dangerous.  People are hospitalized every year from doing this, and occasionally they die.

Symptoms are not reliable in detecting sodium or potassium deficiencies, the only way to know for sure is to have a blood test.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRela...

Answer 5

Na and K are extremely related to each other, why dont you see a doctor as you could be having a defficiency for both and not just one of them?

explanation is too long for this window :p

Answer 6

Blood chemistry test.

See a physician.

Answer 7

you could also have a calcium deficit (also causes cramping). the only way to know is a lab test. most likely it's calcium. your body regulates your potassium and sodium levels very efficiently.

Answer 8

Sodium deficiencies can cause cramps, but generally what you're describing is actually a result of you being magnesium deficient, so you might want to consider supplementing your diet with salts (which to my knowledge is allowed in the water cure), or magnesium directly and see if either work.

Also quackwatch is an awful website, I would personally disregard everything they say.

The person who runs it has admitted taking money to promote pharmaceutical companies in court and consistently lies or casts himself as an expert on subjects he knows almost nothing about.