Does Potassium Chloride Cause Water Weight Gain?

If your doctor has recommended a low-salt diet or you simply want to reduce your sodium intake, potassium chloride can help. It has the same "salty" taste as sodium chloride -- table salt -- but it's naturally sodium-free, so you won't increase your salt intake. Potassium chloride also doesn't have the side effects associated with regular salt, including water weight gain. However, potassium chloride isn't safe for everyone -- especially people with certain medical conditions -- so check with your doctor before adding it to your diet.

Sodium and Water Weight

Your body maintains a steady balance of water and dissolved minerals called electrolytes, which include sodium. As you lose certain electrolytes, like sodium, your body also excretes water, so it can keep your electrolyte levels in balance. The reverse is also true; when you have higher-than-normal levels of sodium in your system, your body holds onto excess water as well. This offers a physiological benefit; moderate sodium levels help your body retain some water to keep your blood pressure steady, for example, while low sodium levels can cause low blood pressure. However, if you indulge in a sodium-heavy meal, you'll typically see a temporary weight gain of a few extra pounds of water weight, which you'll lose as your body flushes out the excess sodium and fluid.

Sodium's effect on water retention has other risks; the fluid retention from habitually getting too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure. For this reason, people at risk of hypertension or heart disease should limit their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams daily, compared to 2,300 milligrams for the general population.

Potassium Chloride and Water Weight

Is Sodium Bad for Weight Loss?

Learn More

Potassium chloride doesn't have the same effect on water weight as sodium. Unlike sodium chloride, potassium chloride isn't water-soluble, explains Columbia University, so it doesn't dissolve in your body fluids and trigger water retention, even if you take large amounts 2. That means you're not likely to notice any significant water weight gain because of adding potassium chloride to your meals.

If you're still eating foods high in sodium, though -- like processed foods, canned soups or cottage cheese -- you may still be taking in enough sodium to gain water weight, regardless of whether you use potassium chloride or not.

Benefits and Risks of Potassium Chloride

Introducing more potassium into your diet may have health benefits, since potassium is an essential mineral. Potassium helps your nerves send electrical signals, which is essential for communication between networks of nerve cells, as well as between nerves and muscles. Upping your potassium intake -- and decreasing your sodium intake -- also helps prevent high blood pressure.

Loading up meals with potassium chloride might cause health problems for some people, though, warns Columbia University. Potassium chloride supplements may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Certain health conditions involving your heart, liver and kidneys can affect your body's ability to process potassium, and taking potassium chloride could cause the body to retain too much potassium. High levels of potassium can lead to dangerous changes in heart rhythm that can be fatal. Always check with your doctor before making changes to your diet, including adding potassium chloride to your daily routine.

Potassium-Free Seasoning Alternatives

Does Taking Potassium Supplements Help Leg Cramps?

Learn More

Potassium chloride isn't the only game in town when you're looking for salt-free flavor. Seasonings like citrus zest, fresh herbs, spices and black pepper all add lots of flavor to foods without excess sodium or potassium. For example, try seasoning chicken breasts with a marinade made from apple cider vinegar, fresh chopped sage, lemon or orange zest and cracked black pepper, or flavor lean beef with a marinade made from red wine vinegar, chopped garlic and fresh rosemary. Add flavor to veggies with mint or basil chiffonade, or add a dusting of cayenne pepper to roasted sweet potatoes for a hint of heat.