This post is intended to clarify the misconception that ALL salt is equal and all salt is bad for you.
The greater medical community has committed to the broad statement that “Salt is bad.” We, as the general public, hear this from our medical professionals and think we need to stay away from all salt, especially if there is a history of high blood pressure or heart issues in the family.
But the fact is there can be devastating health consequences for you if you cut ALL salt from your diet The doctors that preach stay away from all salt really need a refresher course in Biochemistry 101.
Why do we need (non-toxic) salt?
Salt is one of our basic nutrients we need to “anchor” water in the right places. Without sufficient amounts, water won’t be able to remain where it needs to, and regardless of how much water we drink, we’ll remain chronically dehydrated. Too little water in our cells will lead to early cell death (as in degenerative disease) and will typically lead to difficult bowel elimination because we can’t “hold” water in our colon. A typical sign that this is the case is that you have to urinate soon after drinking water.
One of the biggest problems you will experience when being salt deficient is that inevitably you won’t be able to digest your food. You create your ideal digestive acid, hydrochloride (HCL), primarily from sodium chloride (NaCl). When you have too little NaCl, you don’t have the building blocks to create sufficient HCL. This will lead to sluggish digestion and acid reflux. When food is improperly digested, your body produces lactic or other waste acids. These waste acids are the culprit of acid reflux, bloating, and gas. Your body may also have more undigested food which means it’s not absorbing the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. When you have low levels of HCL in your stomach, you’re also more vulnerable to parasites and other microbial infections from contaminated foods.
Many of these infestations are tiny bacteria that commonly infest the heart or kidneys. These bacteria can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones and hardening of the arteries! Hang On! Isn’t this is what we were trying to keep under control? With too little (ideal) salt, we’ve become much worse off.
The Good Vs. The Bad
Supermarket sea salt is actually nothing more than an industrial byproduct. Sea salt is heated and stripped of its minerals, and those minerals are used for such products as mineral supplements. What is left over from this process is pure sodium, which is useless. Companies add iodine, and sometimes bless is by a Rabi to make it Kosher, and sell it as a food. When we eat this sodium, our bodies are not able to maintain proper fluid balance. This results in hypertension and other inflammatory conditions.
Here’s what you need to know in buying good quality salt and you’ll never need to worry if you’ve consumed too much.
- It needs to be air-dried sea salt
- Salt needs to be from a clean water source
- Ceramic grinders, or surgical grade stainless steel grinders are the best choices
Here’s what you want to stay away from:
- Avoid iodized table salt completely. It will stress your kidneys and raise your blood pressure.
- Packaged and salty foods. These foods usually contain table salt.
- “Fake” sea salts. The brand Real Salt is actually mined in Utah.
Brands I recommend:
- Alessi
- Fleur de Sel
- Celtic Sea Salt Society
- Maine Sea Salt Company
- Didi Davis Salt
I really like to switch up my sea salt, so when I’m finished with one brand, I switch to another and therefore get a new mineral complex into my body.
How can we replete salt safely?
Using only a non-toxic sea salt, like the ones mentioned above, you can safely and quickly replete what has been missing by consuming about 1 tsp. salt in a tall glass of water in addition to salting your food to taste. For a child, you may only need ¼ to ½ tsp per day. Drinking this healthy salt water can be done daily. About 15-30 minutes after drinking the water, you should have a bowel movement. That’s a sign that your body’s salt level is normalized.
I would encourage you to continue salting your food only with a high-quality salt, but you won’t have to continue to drink the salt water anymore to remain “topped off” with your salt levels.
Now you can enjoy salt again without the guilt!
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