Pretty in Pink Salt! - Good or Bad for health?
Health practitioners have been hammering on about the health risks associated with salt intake and then suddenly someone comes along and says it’s good for us? So who is right? The answer is sitting right on the fence….BOTH!
Salt is necessary for a number of important physiological processes in the body and without it we would die. It helps transmit information in our nerves and muscles and assists with nutrient uptake into the small intestine (our gut) and we cannot make it ourselves so therefore we need to get it from our food.
The problem is that we actually only need a minute amount (less than a teaspoon a day) and we are consuming five to six times the amount we require. So when we are saying reduce your salt intake we are speaking specifically about the type of salt you find on your dining table and less visibly in nearly all packaged and processed goods. This unnatural type of salt is chemically cleaned, our body does not recognize it and so cannot use it efficiently. This leads to a build up in our systems and for every gram that your body cannot get rid of it takes 23 times the amount of cell water to neutralize it. This result in a serious imbalance. Our cells are starved of water and our tissues hold too much. This leads to Inflammation in tissues which can result in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
The other problem with salt is the preservatives used in it, such as man-made forms of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and aluminium hydroxide. An example of the hazards of these preservatives can be found in aluminium where a build up in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Sea salt used to be the ideal option. However with the way in which our oceans are being polluted, and over 89 percent of sea salt producers now refining their products, it is not what it used to be.
There is some good news in all this though. Natural and health beneficial forms of salt are becoming more readily available. Himalayan Pink Salt contains 82 elements already found in your body and is readily absorbed, regulating water content throughout the body and promoting a healthy pH level in cells (brain cells in particular). This type of salt also helps us to absorb nutrients into our GI tract (gut).
Other benefits that have been noted:
- regulating sleep
- promotes bone strength
- promotes sinus health
- prevents muscle cramps
- stabilizes blood sugar levels
The best way for our bodies to get the benefits of himalayan sea salt is to add it to a glass of warm water with some lemon first thing in the morning for a good clean start to the day. And if you feel the urge to put salt on your food this is a great alternative that tastes a lot better than processed chemicals.
Ways to reduce your overall salt intake:
- Reduce your intake of processed and packaged goods.
- Check your labels – aim for salt content less than 120mg/100g
- Remove salt from the dining room table and near your cooking areas
- Cook to retain and conserve flavour – bake, steam or stir fry. By boiling you are leeching essential nutrients and losing flavour into the water, which results in you reaching for the salt to add back some taste.
- Eat wholegrain breads from your local bakery or bake your own bread.
If you are in the Port Douglas area pop by Malone's Butchery, mention this article and pick up your free sample of himalayan sea salt!
Be aware of your thoughts and feelings and remember if you are eating clean, healthy food your mind and body will think and move with clarity and vitality.
Salt is necessary for a number of important physiological processes in the body and without it we would die. It helps transmit information in our nerves and muscles and assists with nutrient uptake into the small intestine (our gut) and we cannot make it ourselves so therefore we need to get it from our food.
The problem is that we actually only need a minute amount (less than a teaspoon a day) and we are consuming five to six times the amount we require. So when we are saying reduce your salt intake we are speaking specifically about the type of salt you find on your dining table and less visibly in nearly all packaged and processed goods. This unnatural type of salt is chemically cleaned, our body does not recognize it and so cannot use it efficiently. This leads to a build up in our systems and for every gram that your body cannot get rid of it takes 23 times the amount of cell water to neutralize it. This result in a serious imbalance. Our cells are starved of water and our tissues hold too much. This leads to Inflammation in tissues which can result in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
The other problem with salt is the preservatives used in it, such as man-made forms of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and aluminium hydroxide. An example of the hazards of these preservatives can be found in aluminium where a build up in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Sea salt used to be the ideal option. However with the way in which our oceans are being polluted, and over 89 percent of sea salt producers now refining their products, it is not what it used to be.
There is some good news in all this though. Natural and health beneficial forms of salt are becoming more readily available. Himalayan Pink Salt contains 82 elements already found in your body and is readily absorbed, regulating water content throughout the body and promoting a healthy pH level in cells (brain cells in particular). This type of salt also helps us to absorb nutrients into our GI tract (gut).
Other benefits that have been noted:
- regulating sleep
- promotes bone strength
- promotes sinus health
- prevents muscle cramps
- stabilizes blood sugar levels
The best way for our bodies to get the benefits of himalayan sea salt is to add it to a glass of warm water with some lemon first thing in the morning for a good clean start to the day. And if you feel the urge to put salt on your food this is a great alternative that tastes a lot better than processed chemicals.
Ways to reduce your overall salt intake:
- Reduce your intake of processed and packaged goods.
- Check your labels – aim for salt content less than 120mg/100g
- Remove salt from the dining room table and near your cooking areas
- Cook to retain and conserve flavour – bake, steam or stir fry. By boiling you are leeching essential nutrients and losing flavour into the water, which results in you reaching for the salt to add back some taste.
- Eat wholegrain breads from your local bakery or bake your own bread.
If you are in the Port Douglas area pop by Malone's Butchery, mention this article and pick up your free sample of himalayan sea salt!
Be aware of your thoughts and feelings and remember if you are eating clean, healthy food your mind and body will think and move with clarity and vitality.