Introduction:
Salt, a seemingly simple compound, plays a crucial role in our lives. From flavoring our food to maintaining essential bodily functions, its importance cannot be overstated. However, not all salt is created equal. This blog post will delve into the differences between table salt and natural salts, explore the vital functions of salt, discuss its potential health benefits, and outline the symptoms of salt deficiency.
But first: Myth Buster Time:
There is no scientific evidence ANYWHERE, to prove that increasing your natural salt intake is in any way, linked to high blood pressure. FACT!!
And another thing, while im on my soap box:
Table salt is not real salt. By the time it gets to your kitchen as "Table Salt" it resembles nothing like natural salt such as Himalayn Salt or Sea Salt.
Prior to ending up in the salt cellar, it has been heated, dyed, bleached, pumped full of emulsifiers, stabilisers and many other chemicals and looks or
tastes nothing like natural, unprocessed salt.
Table Salt vs. Natural Salts: What's the Difference?
Table Salt
- Highly processed
- Primarily sodium chloride (NaCl)
- Additives: anti-caking agents, iodine
- Fine, uniform texture
- Often bleached
Table salt is the most common type of salt found in households. It undergoes significant processing, stripping away many of its natural minerals. The primary component is sodium chloride, typically around 97% or higher. To prevent clumping, anti-caking agents like sodium ferrocyanide or calcium silicate are added. In many countries, iodine is also added to address iodine deficiency. The refining process results in a fine, uniform texture and often involves bleaching, which can remove beneficial trace minerals. The taste is generally considered to be purely salty.
Natural Salts
- Minimally processed
- Contains trace minerals
- Variety of textures and colors
- Examples: Sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, Celtic sea salt
Natural salts, on the other hand, are minimally processed and retain many of their naturally occurring minerals. These salts are harvested from various sources, including the sea, salt mines, and salt lakes. The presence of trace minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron gives these salts a more complex flavor profile and distinctive colors. Examples of natural salts include sea salt (evaporated from seawater), Himalayan pink salt (mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan), and Celtic sea salt (harvested from coastal regions of France). Their textures vary, ranging from coarse crystals to fine flakes.
Why is Salt Important?
Salt is essential for a multitude of bodily functions. Sodium, a key component of salt, is a crucial electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Without adequate salt intake, these processes can become compromised, leading to various health problems. Here's a breakdown of its importance:
- Fluid Balance: Sodium helps maintain the appropriate fluid balance in the body by regulating the movement of water between cells and the bloodstream. This is vital for maintaining blood pressure and overall hydration.
- Nerve Function: Sodium ions are essential for transmitting nerve impulses throughout the body. These impulses are critical for communication between the brain and the rest of the body, enabling us to think, move, and react to stimuli.
- Muscle Contraction: Sodium, along with other electrolytes like potassium and calcium, plays a key role in muscle contraction. It helps initiate and regulate muscle movement, including the beating of the heart.
- Nutrient Absorption: Sodium is involved in the absorption of certain nutrients in the small intestine. It helps transport glucose, amino acids, and other essential compounds from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
- Stomach Acid Production: Sodium chloride is a component of hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is produced in the stomach and is essential for digesting food. Hydrochloric acid helps break down proteins and kill harmful bacteria in the stomach.
Mythbuster:
Acid reflux medication is all the rage at the moment, and it needn't be. Most people are told that the cause of acid reflux is having TOO MUCH acid in the stomach.
What if I told you, its the exact opposite? When you have too little, or un effective stomach acid, the food cannot be digested effectively.
This food then sits on top of your stomach and basically rots, giving off toxic gasses in the meantime.
This gas is what the body needs to get rid of, and it does this by trying to eject it from the stomach, up the oesophagus and out of your mouth.
By simply increasing your NATURAL salt intake, thereby increasing the effectives of your stomach acid, you can safely either stop,
or significantly reduce acid reflux, and in turn, get off those medications.
Health Benefits of Salt:
- Electrolyte Balance: Natural salts provide essential electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which are crucial for maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions. These electrolytes are particularly important for athletes and individuals who engage in strenuous physical activity.
- Hydration: Sodium helps regulate fluid balance and promotes hydration by encouraging water retention in the body. This is especially important during exercise or in hot weather when the body loses fluids through sweat.
- Blood Pressure Regulation: Adequate sodium intake is necessary for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Low sodium intake can lead to hypotension (low blood pressure), which can cause dizziness, fatigue, and fainting.
- Thyroid Function: Iodine, is essential for thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, characterized by fatigue, weight gain, and cognitive impairment.
- Cystic Fibrosis: Individuals with cystic fibrosis lose excessive amounts of sodium through sweat. Adequate salt intake is crucial for maintaining electrolyte balance and preventing dehydration in these individuals. Doctors often recommend higher salt intake for people with cystic fibrosis, especially during hot weather or exercise.
Your body needs salt, and more than you think, and certainly more than we are told to consume. Your kidneys cannot function without salt,
hence why the homeopathic doctors call them potassium/sodium pumps. Salt is packed with potassium, sodium and magnesium.
People with high blood pressure will be placed on medications and told to go on a low salt diet.
Due to low salt intake, your kidneys struggle to function effectively, hence water retention within the body takes place.
These same people are then given water tablets to help with this, but what are water tablets?
Answer: Synthetic salt, which forces the kidneys to flush out excess water from the body.
Symptoms of Salt Deficiency (Hyponatremia):
Salt deficiency, or hyponatremia, occurs when the sodium levels in the blood become abnormally low. This can result from excessive fluid intake, certain medical conditions, or the use of diuretics. Symptoms of hyponatremia can range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the deficiency. It is important to note that many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
- Nausea and Vomiting: These are common early symptoms of hyponatremia. The imbalance of electrolytes can disrupt digestive function and lead to nausea and vomiting.
- Headache: Low sodium levels can cause swelling in the brain, leading to headaches. The severity of the headache can vary from mild to severe.
- Confusion and Disorientation: Sodium plays a crucial role in nerve function. Low sodium levels can disrupt nerve impulses in the brain, leading to confusion, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating.
- Muscle Weakness, Spasms, or Cramps: Sodium is essential for muscle contraction. Low sodium levels can impair muscle function, causing muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps.
- Fatigue and Lethargy: Electrolyte imbalances can disrupt energy production in the body, leading to fatigue and lethargy.
- Seizures: In severe cases of hyponatremia, the brain can swell excessively, leading to seizures.
- Coma: If hyponatremia is left untreated, it can lead to coma. Severe brain swelling can impair brain function and cause loss of consciousness.
Conclusion:
Salt is a vital nutrient that plays a critical role in numerous bodily functions. While table salt is a common choice, natural salts offer a richer mineral content and a more complex flavor profile. Consuming natural salt is essential for maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Recognizing the symptoms of salt deficiency and understanding the potential health benefits of natural salts can empower you to make informed choices about your salt intake. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice on salt consumption, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
