Is the sodium in softened water harmful to people on restrictive diets?
A. Much depends on the strictness of the diet itself. When the patient is on an extremely restrictive diet, he should drink neither hard nor softened water. Under these conditions he should have de-mineralized water, distilled water, or water known to be free of sodium for drinking and for the cooking of foods. Such patients are commonly hospitalized. In establishing a salt free diet for patients, physicians should not overlook the fact that even hard water may contain appreciable amounts of sodium. To determine the amount a complete analysis of the water is necessary.
