Drinking water feels like one of those “shoulds” that just doesn’t seem to help – especially for midlife women already struggling with emotional eating and weight.
If you’re used to reaching for soda or other sugary drinks, plain water can feel dull, unsatisfying, and like it’s not addressing the real problem. And let’s be honest – adding salt to water doesn’t sound like it would make things any better.
You may not know this, but drinking water, especially with a pinch of Celtic sea salt, isn’t just about quenching your salt-thirst [unless you like beach water – yuck!]. However, it’s about giving your body exactly what it needs to hydrate properly, balance hormones, and reduce the stress signals that trigger cravings.
When you’re in an endless cycle of emotional eating or your body is working against you, this small change can make a big difference – and yes, there are ways to make it taste good, too.
If you’ve been relying on soda, juice, or other sugary drinks, switching to water can feel like a drag. Sugary drinks are designed to keep you coming back for more – they’re sweet, fizzy, and comforting. Water, by comparison, can feel bland, and adding Celtic sea salt might sound like you’re turning it into something unpleasant. I get it.
Here’s why this aversion happens: soda and other sugary drinks train your brain to associate hydration with sweetness and a quick dopamine hit. But they don’t actually hydrate you. In fact, the caffeine, sugar, and artificial ingredients in soda dehydrate your body, leaving you feeling even more tired and craving another fix. When you try to switch to plain water, it feels unsatisfying because it’s not delivering the same sugar rush your brain has come to expect.
Now, let’s add another layer: when your body is dehydrated [even slightly] it can send signals that feel like hunger or fatigue. This is especially true during midlife, when hormonal changes like fluctuating estrogen and cortisol make you more sensitive to dehydration. And drinking water with Celtic sea salt addresses this at its root by not only hydrating you but also replenishing the minerals your body needs to use that water effectively. So over time, this small change can help reset your cravings and improve your energy.
But here’s how this works on a biological level: your body needs water for just about everything – digestion, brain function, metabolism, and hormone regulation. And water on its own doesn’t always do the job, especially if you’re missing the electrolytes that help your cells absorb it. So this is where Celtic sea salt comes in.
Celtic sea salt is packed with over 80 trace minerals, like magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These minerals make hydration work better by helping water move into your cells where it’s needed most. They also support key hormones:
Cortisol (stress hormone): Celtic sea salt helps balance cortisol, reducing the stress that drives cravings and emotional eating.
Ghrelin and leptin (hunger hormones): Proper hydration with minerals helps regulate these hormones, so you feel fuller and less driven to eat when you’re not actually hungry.
For example, if you’ve ever felt snacky in the middle of the afternoon, even after eating lunch, your body might actually be asking for water and minerals, not food. By drinking a glass of water with a pinch of Celtic sea salt can address the root issue, leaving you feeling more satisfied and less likely to grab that bag of chips or chocolate bar.
When you’re used to drinking soda or sugary drinks, switching from them to water [especially water with salt] isn’t easy. I know it’s normal for it to feel unappealing at first – after all, your taste buds are used to sweetness, and the salty taste might feel strange [it’s underneath your tongue so you shouldn’t even notice it]. But we all know your taste buds can adapt [vegemite anyone?].
With a little creativity, you can make water more enjoyable while still reaping the benefits of Celtic sea salt [jump onto Instagram or TikTok – there are a tonne of influencers who’ll show you how]. So, it’s about finding what works for you and taking small steps to make the transition manageable.
If you’re thinking, “But I just don’t like the taste of water, and adding salt sounds even worse,” I get it. But there are simple ways to make it taste better without losing the benefits. I mean, who doesn’t love a squeeze of lemon? Or a few slices of cucumber? Or even a handful of berries? These can all make a huge difference. These natural flavours not only make the water more enjoyable but also complement the minerals in Celtic sea salt.
Another argument to this is, “I already drink water, but it hasn’t helped with my cravings or energy.” So, this is where Celtic sea salt trumps all arguments. Drinking plain water can help with hydration, but without the right minerals, your body might not be absorbing it as effectively as it could. And by adding just a pinch of Celtic sea salt, it does absorb quickly [hence why Barbara O’Neill says to pop it under the tongue for immediate absorption] which gives your body what it needs to truly hydrate and reset.
But here’s why this matters so much: when your body is dehydrated, even a little, your brain’s primitive survival instincts kick in. It sends out signals that feel like hunger, stress, or fatigue, driving you to seek comfort in food or sugary drinks. This is especially true during midlife, when hormonal changes amplify your body’s sensitivity to dehydration.
By drinking water with Celtic sea salt, you’re giving your brain the reassurance it needs: “We’re safe. We’ve got what we need.” This reduces cravings, helps regulate your mood, and gives you the energy to handle life’s challenges without constantly reaching for quick fixes.
This is exactly one of the things we do in Midlifestyle School. We address how hydration impacts hormonal balance, brain function, and energy levels, showing you how prioritising water can ease symptoms like fatigue, hot flushes, and cravings while supporting overall wellbeing in midlife.
We address building better hydration habits by starting small and making gradual changes that feel manageable. For example, if you’re used to sugary drinks, we suggest replacing just one soda or sugary drink a day with flavoured water infused with lemon, cucumber, or mint, paired with a small pinch of Celtic sea salt to support hydration.
To make water more enjoyable, we encourage experimenting with flavour combinations like orange slices with basil or strawberries with mint, transforming hydration into a more satisfying experience. If the saltiness feels too strong, start with just a minuscule grain under your tongue, and gradually increase to the size of a small grain of rice, as your taste adjusts.
We also teach you how to pair water with your current habits – like drinking a glass of water with sea salt after a soda or sugary drink – to begin rehydrating and flushing out sugar and caffeine. Staying consistent is the thing, so we recommend keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day and incorporating sea salt into your routine when feeling snacky, tired, or overwhelmed.
I know switching from soda or sugary drinks to water – especially water with salt – might not sound exciting, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do for your body. It’s not just about hydration: it’s about resetting your cravings, balancing your hormones, and calming the stress signals that drive emotional eating.
Yes, it might taste strange at first, but with a little creativity and consistency, your taste buds will adjust, and you’ll start to feel the difference. And truly, a glass of water with Celtic sea salt isn’t just water – it’s a way to give your body what it’s truly asking for.
And when you’re drinking more water by replacing the soda or sugary drinks, you’ll naturally feel more full, feel less inclined to want to eat, and you’ll have the energy to move more. The problem with this is, over a period of months, you may end up losing that unwanted weight you’ve been struggling with. 😏
My question to you is – do you drink water or is soda or a sugary drink your go-to? And does adding a grain of Celtic sea salt to water sound “awful” to you?
Again, whilst I have you! I love when you reply, and if you like this type of content and have any ideas for any other content you would like from me, I would to love to hear.
