The Trade-in: Table salt (health enemy #1) for healthy Himalayan salt
Benefits: Lower “bad salt” intake, lower “good salt” intake, and add beneficial minerals to your diet
The American Heart Association states that 9 out of 10 Americans consume too much salt: over 3,600mg a day[1]: 226% of the recommended daily allowance. Excess salt intake creates poor health conditions including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, kidney stones, stomach cancer, headaches, weight gain, puffiness, and inflammation.
Lowering your salt intake can be difficult because so many packaged and canned foods are loaded with it and restaurants use it by the pound. Just look at the back of the many items that you consume and it doesn’t take a lot to surpass the RDA. So, what do you do?
Table Salt: Health Enemy #1
Salt is a necessary element for our health, but most of us are unaware that not all salts are created equal. The common table salt is processed with chemicals. Table salt is composed of 97.5% sodium chloride and 2% to 3% chemicals like iodine, absorbents, and even sugar. This salt is heated and dried at more than 1,200° Fahrenheit which robs this mineral of its natural structure. The unhealthy results:
- This table salt is void of any nutritional value
- This salt turns to sodium chloride, which is toxic to the body
- It can block the absorption of nutrients
- It is difficult for the body to eliminate it naturally
Table Salt Hazards: Retention of water, high blood pressure, tissue irritation; and robs water from other cells to neutralize the salt leading to: arthritis, gout, gallbladder stones, cellulite, and rheumatism.
Healthy Himalayan Salt: Sodium in moderate amounts is essential for our body. Natural sodium is found in vegetables, fruits, soil, and natural sea salt. Himalayan salt is the purest form found on earth, untouched for millions of years. Organic sodium neutralizes acids, which result from poor diets and stressful lifestyles. This salt helps digestion, joint flexibility, calcium absorption, and poor nutrition. Without adequate amounts of sodium, the body will take minerals from its reserves, including the bones, to neutralize acid. Organic sodium is essential for calcium absorption, digestion, and plays an important role in the majority of our organs.
The Take Away for Your Best Health:
1). Reduce your intake of “unnatural sodium” in chips, foods, and using “table salt” for better health. Studies show it lowers blood pressure, hypertension, and many other unhealthy conditions[2]. Try and avoid foods high in salt, eat whole foods, and eat organic if possible.
2). Trade-Out your table salt at home for Himalayan Salt. That’s easy. It’s available at Costco and most health food stores, or online. Just don’t overdo it. The point is to reduce your salt intake.
[1] American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300625.pdf
[2]Harvard Health Study: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mens_Health_Watch/2010/October/salt-and-your-health
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