SALT – DO WE NEED IT?

I believe that salt is vital for us.  When the doctors tell us not to eat salt most of the time it is because it is inorganic table salt which can wreak havoc on our bodies, however, the right kind of salt is also vital for the survival of all living creatures. There are different kinds of salt, however, and we need to know which one is best for us.  Why?  The right kind of salt can:

Help regulate blood pressure, help balance sugar levels in the body, help with absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract, help clear the mucous from the lungs, help clear congestion of the sinuses, and can help prevent muscle cramps.  Salt on the tongue is also believed to prevent persistent dry coughs.

There are different kinds of salt:

1.  Table salt: Table Salt is Sodium Chloride with additives. It has been stripped of its elements and contains additives such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum has also been implicated as one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

2.  Sea Salt: This is produced using evaporation of ocean water, and leaves the minerals in place.  There are; however, still some trace minerals missing.  

3.  Celtic Salt: This salt is usually hand harvested. It is packaged and retains its natural moisture. It costs more than the grocery store salts, but the health benefits from using this type of salt are well worth it. You will need a ceramic grinder because the salt is moist. This salt is my personal favourite. Unrefined rock salt like this contains more than 84 minerals!

4.  Himalayan Salt (pink) Himalayan Crystal Salt is extremely beneficial. It should be organic, unaltered, natural salt.  It was formed about 250 million years ago!  It is identical in composition to the ancient primal ocean.  It contains all the elements found in our bodies.  

Celtic and Himalayan salt can be found in Health Food Stores that supply foods, and sometimes in supermarkets in their organic and all natural food sections.

I personally believe that too few minerals, rather than too much salt, may be to blame for many health problems.  It’s a view that is echoed by other academics such as David McCarron, of Oregon Health Sciences University in the US. 

So, choose the right kind of salt and see what a difference it will make to how you feel!