If one is stranded at sea, why is drinking salt water not recommended?
You would most likely live longer by not drinking ANY water. That way, at least your body can still use whatever water it still has. If you have a decent chance at living about a week without water, you may only live 1-2 days drinking salt water. Your body will suddenly do everything it can to get rid of all the excess salt, and it won’t have enough water (including the salt water you just drank) to do it. And whatever water was still in your body will quickly go away too. So you will die pretty quickly. You may die anyway if you aren’t rescued, but at least not drinking at all will buy you a few more days.
