Salt...The Myth

Salt has been key throughout history in preserving foods and for adding flavor to foods, thus being very helpful in sustaining people throughout long brutal winters, especially in the Midwest, prior to refrigeration.

However, the Egyptians used salt for embalming...which should serve as a not too subtle hint, that what we know as salt, is not easily assimilated by the body and has many harmful effects. The "salt" I am speaking about is known as table salt which is basically a manufactured chemical containing one sodium ion and one chloride ion, known in chemistry terms as Na Cl. Table salt is 97.5 percent Sodium Chloride and 2.5% chemicals, such as moisture absorbents and iodine. While the body does need salt, it does not utilize it in this form.

Salt (Na Cl) can't be digested, assimilated, or utilized as food by the body. It has zero nutritional value. It is linked to hypertension, heart disease and osteoporosis. In fact, it is the number one cause of osteoporosis as consuming too much salt is akin to consuming too much protein in that they are both habits which expedite the excretion of calcium. The reason being is that the kidneys always pair calcium with sodium in order to excrete it from the body. Salt is also negatively affects the stomach by interfering with the digestion of food. It does this by only allowing 50 percent of Pepsin, an enzyme found in hydrochloric acid and responsible for aiding in the digestion of proteins, to be secreted by the gut. The result is what is called GERD, an acronym for severe heartburn. Salt is similar to sugar in that they both are an acquired taste by the body and one can break free from the hold salt has on the body by eliminating table salt and increasing green vegetables in the diet. We need little to no salt when we consume adequate green vegetables. In my opinion, the next best thing to green vegetables is Pink Himalayan salt. This salt is way better than sea salt as it regulates water content in the body, which is counter to table salt, which in fact causes edema due to the fact that it is so caustic to the tissues of the body that water is retained to neutralize its acidic effects. This not only adds "water" weight to the body, but eventually contributes to the malfunction of one's kidneys. Pink Himalayan salt also balances the acidity or P.H. of the blood stream, as well as blood sugar levels, regulates sleep, clears phlegm and mucous from the body, stabilizes heart beat and much more. I have been using Pink Himalayan salt for over a year now in cooking and in my Neti Pot, or nasal irrigation pot and absolutely love it. It naturally contains 84 minerals, or trace minerals and is considered full spectrum salt. Many people believe that sea salt is a better option to table salt and I beg to differ as sea salt can contain harmful pollutants, heavy metals, etc. from the ocean it is harvested from. Pink Himalayan salt can be obtained unground, ground or in a block. It is actually pink in color and adds wonderful flavor to veggies and other dishes. You can purchase it from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and many Food Cooperatives. I suggest giving it a try and of course, up your veggies daily as well. I can virtually guarantee that you will not be going  back to table salt any time soon!