Day 20: Salt

Table Salt vs Celtic Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt

Table salt is manufactured by taking natural salt (such as crude oil flake leftovers) and heating it to 1200° Fahrenheit. During this extreme process, the chemical composition is completely altered and all of the nutritional benefits are destroyed. In the end, generic table salt ends up being about 97.5% sodium chloride and a 2.5% balance containing an array of ingredients including:

• Anti-caking chemicals.
• Iodine to prevent goiters.
• MSG and/or white processed sugar to help stabilize the iodine.
• And aluminum derivatives such as sodium solo-co-aluminate.

Ultimately, this processed salt along with the abundance of it, has found a home in many restaurant meals and processed foods. It puts people at risk of developing cardiovascular events and chronic disease because of conditions like elevated blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. Subsequently, it should be no surprised that people who use these products develop diabetes, gout, fluid retention and obesity more than people who don’t.

Real Salt Benefits and Beyond
On the other hand, REAL salt like Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan salt has many benefits:

• Contains 60 trace minerals which help you stay hydrated.
•  Sufficient sodium levels that help balance your sodium-potassium ratios.
•  Powerful electrolytes like magnesium.
•  Trace elements required for proper adrenal, immune and thyroid function.
•  Digestive enzyme enhancers, which help your body absorb more nutrients from the foods that you eat.
•  Promote vascular health.
•  Regulate your blood pressure with sufficient water and potassium intake.

Himalayan Salt
Pink Himalayan salt contains so many minerals, it’s more beneficial to the body, but as a salt, it’s still naturally high in sodium. So as with any salt, you don’t want to overdo it. Getting too much sodium in the diet (especially with not enough potassium to balance things out) can lead to high blood pressure for some people. *It can also lead to a concerning buildup of fluid in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disease.

It is claimed by many that Himalayan crystal salt is the purest salt available on the planet. With a history dating back to Earth’s creation, it is believed to be composed of dried remnants of the original, primal sea.

Known as “pink gold,” Himalayan crystal salt is actually a beautiful translucent pink and contains all of the 84 elements found in your body. Because of amazing nutrient load, doctors of functional medicine report that eating Himalayan salt can help:

•  Regulate the water content throughout your body
•  Promote blood sugar health and can help reduce the signs of aging
•  Assist in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body
•  Absorb food particles through your intestinal tract
•  Support respiratory health
•  Promote sinus health
•  Prevent of muscle cramps
•  Promote bone strength
•  Regulate your sleep
•  Support your libido
•  Promote vascular health
•  Regulate your blood pressure with sufficient water and potassium intake              

Celtic Sea Salt
Another ancient commodity, Celtic Sea Salt is comparable to Himalayan crystal salt in its composition and health benefits. Being of a grayish hue, it is naturally harvested in Brittany France near the Celtic Sea using a 2,000-year old Celtic method that is crucial to preserving its life-giving nutrition profile. Weber’s description of this process sums it up well:

The salt fields of Brittany are lined with a natural layer of clay and sand. In order to harmonize the trace elements, the hand raking of the moist crystals is done by artisans with a skillful touch.

The method is followed by a dedicated group of professional natural salt farmers in Brittany, who perpetuate the traditional skills that have been passed down through generations from antiquity. When harvested in these ways, natural Celtic sea salts are highly beneficial to one’s health as they possess many therapeutic qualities. Interestingly, this salt will retain its moisture and will be moist to touch, in spite of how you store it. Think of this as a gentle reminder of its ocean-source and continual life-giving properties!

Even though sea salt has health benefits, you don’t want to overdo it. Use sea salt in moderation. If your diet is too high in sodium, then more water is excreted by the kidneys, and this can cause complications with balancing other essential electrolytes. Symptoms of having too much sea salt include bloating, lethargy, dehydration, weakness, irritability and muscle twitching.

*This post is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before changing your sodium intake.

From Dr. Josh Axe, Food is Medicine


◊These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.