UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SALT IN YOUR DIET – Part II

Our bodies naturally crave sodium, which helps to regulate our proper salt intake. So, following your own natural taste for salt when adding it to food is fine. That said, there is a big difference in what type of salt you eat.

Pink Himalayan salt is known as the most beneficial, if not the cleanest, salt available. It has a lot of nutritional benefits, as well. Himalayan salt contains over 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. So, while you’re enjoying it on your food, it’s also providing great nutrition.

Pink Himalayan salt comes from the Punjab region of Pakistan about 190 miles from the Himalayan mountains. This region contains one of the richest and oldest salt fields in the world. The salt comes from mines 5,000 feet below the Himalayan mountain range, and it is said to be over 99% pure.

Regular table salt is 97.5-99.9% sodium chloride, while unrefined salt like Himalayan is more like 87%. In addition, an anti-clumping agent called yellow prussiate of soda is often added to table salt. The actual chemical name of this additive is sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate. There is much debate out there as to whether or not it is toxic.

Let’s briefly touch on additional benefits and uses of Pink Himalayan salt. According to the Lung Institute, salt is antibacterial (which is why it is great for curing or preserving meats) and anti-inflammatory. It helps loosen excessive mucus and speeds up mucus clearance, rids pathogens in the air and decreases immune system oversensitivity.

Pink Himalayan salt can also help with balancing pH, which makes a big difference in overall health. Proper pH aids in greater immunity and assists with healthy digestion, as well. So, having adequate salt promotes optimal digestive health.

Lastly, Pink Himalayan salt is said to encourage better sleep. Research in 1989 showed that low-sodium diets caused disturbed sleep.

A few closing words with regard to Pink Himalayan salt… Store it in an airtight container and check the label to make sure your salt comes from Pakistan. It’s the only true source – otherwise it’s artificial pink salt. If it’s sold at too low of a price, it may indicate that it was mined from higher mountain elevations and can contain impurities as opposed to the salt caves under the mountains.

We also need to exercise common sense when using salt. Too much sodium without enough potassium to balance it out can lead to high blood pressure for some people, along with a buildup of fluid in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disease. That’s true for all of us. It’s not good to be out of balance with your sodium and potassium. If your doctors have restricted your salt for these reasons, we are not here to contradict them. They are monitoring your situation.

There are even more ways that salt is beneficial and downright necessary for proper bodily function, but it can get a bit technical. The bottom line is that salt is not the problem. Using way too much, using way too little or using the wrong kind of salt is the issue. As Americans, we seem to fall prey to all these on a grand scale. Now that we are more educated, we can make better decisions.