The Truth About Salt. Why have we been told that salt is so deadly? The advice has always sounded reasonable. It has what nutritionists like to call “biological plausibility” – eat more salt and your body retains water to maintain a stable concentration of sodium in your blood. This is why eating salty foods tends to make us thirsty: we drink more; we retain water. The result can be a temporary increase in blood pressure, which will persist until our kidneys eliminate both salt and water.
Most of the salt that we consume comes from processed foods off the shelves, in takeaway food and eat at restaurants. Salt in processed foods are usually processed with anti caking agents, bleaches and is heated to such an extent it is only left with sodium and chloride. If it is an iodised salt, potassium iodate is added, this is something that is mined in Chili and Japan and when it comes to Australia it has warning labels – one in particular says ‘harmful if swallowed’!
The best way to avoid this type of salt is to not buy the food that it is in. Salt is necessary for good health, but GOOD QUALITY salt is most important.
When you use salt you want to opt for a Pink Himalayan Salt especially if you’re trying to limit chemicals in your diet. Typically table salt can contain up to 2.5 percent chemicals from the processing.
At Body of Life Health Centre we stock the Changing Habits pink Himalayan sea salt with dulce flakes, which boosts the levels of iodine. The benefits of this salt are that it is high in minerals and trace elements and has high levels of iodine, which is necessary for our health, particularly the functioning of our thyroid and most importantly this salt is not processed.
Benefits of consuming healthy salt
According to the book by Paul Chek “How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy” salt has a number of health benefits:-
- Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells of the body, particularly the brain cells.
- Salt aids in balancing blood sugar levels.
- Salt is needed for the absorption of foods particles through the intestinal tract.
- Salt clears the lunges of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm.
- Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.
- Salt can aid in prevention of muscle cramps.
- Salt is needed in order to make the structure of the bones firm.
Tips for healthy salt intake
- Reducing ALL salt from your diet would be dangerous and consuming too much salt would also be damaging.
- Stay away from refined white table and refined sea salt.
- Always taste your food first before salting it.
- Read your food labels and avoid excess amounts of sodium.
- Limit your intake of fast foods and restaurant meals.
- If you drink adequate amounts of water, add a pinch of Changing Habits Pink Himalayan Seaweed Salt to each litre bottle to assist in maintenance of electrolyte and energy levels.
Come into Body of Life Health Centre to pick up your Pink Himalayan Seaweed Salt and check out our product range to support you and your family’s health!
Article written by Dr Kristy Buist (Osteopath)
References:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-08/australians-consuming-deadly-amounts-of-salt/4300620
Chek, P. How to eat, move and be healthy.
