It took me only a few days to build it up. Maybe 3. BUT I was having a high sodium diet (cocoa daily, almond, sesame) still the upper back pain came back indicating I was low in sodium so I added more salt to my diet.
I do not like to use too much salt because I have varicose issue, still the salt increase helped with the pain without bringing back the varicose problem so it seems to be in balance.
I crave cocoa drinks (it is an antioxydant but also a good source of sodium). I must drink 10 to 12 daily, I just add it to any herb tea I drink, with a bit of cayenne or cinnamon. NO wonder I crave them they are full of sodium!