Sole (pronounced Solay) is a deeply nourishing, mineral rich, salt water concentrate.
Sole is essentially water that has been completely saturated with a natural salt. It isn’t just a small amount of salt dissolved in water, but water that has absorbed as much natural salt as it can and will not absorb any more.
So, just to be clear, I’m not talking about table salt here! The white salt you get from the grocery store is chemically bleached and stripped of any nutrients. On the other hand, natural salt is a great source of minerals.
The quality of the salt you use, not only to make Sole water but for every day culinary uses is super important. Here are a few options:
Pink Himalayan Salt
This salt has become really trendy lately. The pink color tells us it’s warming to the body and because it comes from a mountain range (instead of the ocean) it is also an overall dryer salt. It’s great if you are feeling heavy, wet, dense, mucus-y (is that a word?), congested and slow. Energetically, it isn’t the best choice for everybody, especially if you are already warm and dry! And, it is being over harvested, comes from a really, really long way away, and it just plain isn’t sustainable long term, environmentally speaking. If you already have it, (like I do!) please by all means use it, but maybe think about choosing a different option in the future.
Real Salt
This salt comes from ancient sea beds in Utah so there are no worries about modern day ocean contamination and it has a much smaller carbon footprint. It is marketed as pink salt and it does have pink flecks but it also has other colors in it and seems more neutral to me.
Celtic Sea Salt
As the name suggests, this salt is mined from the sea. It is gray in color which indicates it has a lot of magnesium in it, but it also contains loads of other vital trace minerals and elements. Sea salt is very replenishing and a good all-around salt to use for your Sole especially if you sweat, exercise, stress, stay up late…
So, this may be the point where you are thinking, thanks for the salt education but why in the heck would I drink salt water, gross! Well, it turns out this concentrated salt water has a number of ways it can enhance your health.
Here are 5 reasons to try drinking Sole water:
- Hydration– We are often thirstier in the morning because during the night the body does some detoxing and repairing and uses a lot of water in the process. Drinking warm water with Sole first thing in the morning helps the body re-hydrate and set you up for good hydration the rest of the day. It also helps to quench deep thirst.
- Detox– When the body is well hydrated and better nourished the immune system is stronger and better able to fight off toxins and pathogens.
- Boosts Energy– Because of the high mineral content Sole has an energizing effect on the body at the cellular level. This means it can nourish you from the ground up. Drinking Sole can help you recover from exhaustion or depletion and adrenal fatigue. (I have personally experienced more energy since I started drinking Sole!)
- Improves Digestion– Sole stimulates the digestive system to improve food absorption and helps with regularity.
- Better Sleep– The minerals in the water help to relax and calm the whole nervous system and control stress which naturally will help you sleep better.
There is also evidence that it can improve blood sugar, work as an anti-histamine, help with muscle cramps, increase bone health, contribute to healthy veins, blood pressure and weight loss.
How to Make Sole
It is simple to make since there are only 2 ingredients. Here is what to do…
Fill a clean glass jar with 16 ounces of purified water. Add 2-3 heaping Tablespoons of a mineral rich salt of your choice. Cover with a non-metal lid. You can shake it a bit to mix the salt into the water. Let it sit on your counter for 24-72 hours. That’s it! There may be a small amount of salt in the bottom of the jar but at that point the water has absorbed all the salt it can and is fully saturated.
To use mix 1-2 teaspoons up to a couple of tablespoons into your morning glass of warm water and drink on an empty stomach. Remember not to use a metal measuring spoon.
You can also use it as a midafternoon pick me up.
I actually started with a couple of tablespoons a day because I was feeling like my adrenals had crashed again and I needed the extra boost. If it tastes really salty, dilute it a little more. It should taste a little salty but a strong salt taste is your body’s way of telling you that you don’t need as much saturation of electrolytes as you might on a day when it tastes fine.
Store at room temperature. I just leave mine on the kitchen counter. That way you will remember to use it too!