Comparison: Sea Salt And Processed Table Salt

Human bodies need salt to function, so not all salt is bad. So why does salt get a bad rap in the news? Well, first of all, there are different types of salts. Unrefined sea salt is natural and rich in beneficial minerals. Standard table salt has been processed and cleaned. Most processed foods are not as healthy as natural foods, and this rings true for salts as well.

In the Diet

Our bodies need sodium to function. Sodium helps carry nutrients to cells and is the primary component of the body's extra-cellular fluids. Sodium also helps regulate blood pressure, fluid volume,

and homeostasis of the body, among other things. As with everything else, the body can get too much or not enough sodium, and both cases can be detrimental to the body and to one's health. Too much salt can cause high blood pressure and organ damage, while not enough salt can impede proper body functioning. Some claim that salt in and of itself is not even responsible for the high rate of high blood pressure, but the processed salt prevalent in modern foods is.

Natural unprocessed rock salt and the trace minerals found with it can ease water tension and relieve muscle tension, help relieve inflammation, and supports bone strength.

Most people who live in the United States consume incredibly high amounts of sodium. It is recommended to consume between 500 and 2,000 milligrams per day, but many people ingest a staggering nearly 6,000 milligrams each day!

Standard table salt is not easily digested and processed by the human body because it's refined and chemically cleansed. It is processed into nearly uniform color, shapes and sizes and to pour easily. Often times it is simply processed sodium with no other nutritional value, unless it is iodized. On the other hand, unrefined sea salt is natural sodium chloride that includes a host of trace minerals. This is the type of salt our bodies are easily able to digest, process, and utilize.

In fact, sea salts, or mineral salts, have chemical and mineral composition similar to human blood and body fluids, such as tears and perspiration, which are both salty. According to preventdisease.com, Dr. Barbara Hendel states that "mineral salts are identical to the elements of which our bodies have been built and were originally found in the primal ocean from where life originated."

Importance of Trace Minerals

Years ago our bodies would get all the trace minerals it needed by eating fruits, vegetables, and grains grown in nutrient-rich soils, naturally occurring salts, and drinking water. Today, commercial farms do not usually have mineral-rich soil and the water we drink is often highly filtered. Also, the form of salt has been highly processed. Where natural

salt used to flavor processed foods, sometimes we see MSG (monosodium glutamate), artificial flavors, and other processed ingredients. These have no nutritional value and can often be damaging to one's health.

Important trace minerals that the body needs and often doesn't get in today's diet, according to naturalnews.com, "include copper, tin, silver, gold, and lithium. The entire burden has shifted to naturally occurring salt and/or trace mineral supplements. Recently, trace minerals in the news include selenium for preventing cancer, boron for preventing osteoporosis, and chromium for regulating blood sugar levels."

Nature provides salt the way it was meant to be digested, with trace minerals and other important components. Just as vitamin supplements without the proper complexes are nearly useless, so is salt if not occurring in the proper form. For example, simply ingesting ascorbic acid (vitamin C) will not do much good for the body. In fruits, vitamin C is naturally occurring with other complexes such as bioflavonoids, calcium, and other elements. That being said, vitamin manufacturers over the years have started to add additional nutrients to vitamins to help with this dilemma.

As a Skin Cleanser or Soak

Mineral salts can be added to scrubs to slough off dead skin and smooth the skin, revealing the healthier surface. They can also be added to baths and your body will absord some of the minerals from the salts through the skin as you soak. Not all bath salts are edible. Some mineral salts have added fragrance or chemicals that make them unsafe to consume, so always be sure to read labels carefully. Do not ever use bath salts on your foods, only use salts specifically designed for food use.

In General

Just about anything that is natural and not processed is healthier than something that is processed. Natural and unrefined sea salt contains many trace elements essential to our bodies, which standard processed table salt does not.

Replacing processed salt with natural unrefined salt is a good step to take to improve your health. Cutting down on processed food will likely improve your health, but also remember that even too much natural sea salt can be damaging, so use it reasonably and in moderation.

Sources

http://www.naturalnews.com/019680.html
http://preventdisease.com/news/08/110708_salt.shtml
http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/dead-sea-salt-benefits.php

Originally published at Yahoo! Contributor Network (Associated Content).



Article Written By Bethany

Last updated on 27-07-2016 2K 0

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