Salt Decoded: Why eating more salt could change your life for the better

Salt has had a bad rep since the 1970’s or even earlier. Culturally, we associate sodium consumption with high blood pressure and heart issues. Majority of people with high blood pressure are recommended to go on a low or no salt diet by their medical practitioners but this could be doing them more harm than good.

Dr Jason Fung, a nephrologist, who aims to reveal the truth in his article The Salt Scam states that “virtually every healthy population in the world eats [sodium] at levels far above the recommendation”. For example, he says that the Okayama people of Japan consume more salt than most nations (3 1/3 tsp per day) and have some of the lowest average blood pressures in the world. So why has salt become such a baddie in Australia and other Western countries?

Australian naturopath, Barbara O’Neill clearly describes why salt is not only not bad for you, but why it is crucial for your health and wellbeing.

There are four vital elements for life:

• Oxygen
• Water
• Sodium
• Potassium

If sodium is a vital element, how is it that we have come to know it for its negative effects on our heart health? O’Neill states that it all comes down to the type of salt that we are consuming.

Table salt contains two minerals – sodium and chloride. It structured in an imbalance form which causes an imbalance in the body. Sodium Chloride, when it is in such high concentrations, and on its own (as it is in the table variety), is extremely harsh on your body. So harsh that is actually kills your taste buds.

Alternatively, Celtic salt which is derived from the Celtic Sea, contains 82 minerals – that is 80 more minerals than table salt, pretty amazing stuff. These 82 minerals are so critical for your cells to absorb nutrients that is no wonder that so many people have deficiencies due to misinformation.

Glucose hitches a ride with sodium

Sodium is a carrier of glucose into the bloodstream. If sodium levels in the body are too low, glucose won’t be getting into the bloodstream. This is why some people with no-sodium diets will find their energy levels can drop quite dramatically. Also, in a no-salt diet the nutrients that you are consuming have trouble getting out of the gut and into your blood, so you actually end up losing a lot of nutrients instead of absorbing them. This is where a no-salt diet can become dangerous for your health.

Magnetic Magnesium

Celtic salt contains three different types of magnesium: mg bromide, mg sulphate and mg chloride. Magnesium is “water hungry” molecule which means it helps carry water into your cells. This is where hydration comes in.

Get hydrated!

The quickest way to hydrate your body is to place a Celtic salt crystal on your tongue, and then drink a glass of water. The magnesium that is in direct contact with your tongue will rapidly and effectively pull the water you drink into your cells. Not only will this hydrate you very quickly but it will also give you a boost of energy.

It’s time that we take the fear out of our salt consumption and get smart. Start introducing mineral-rich salt such as Celtic salt into your diet and notice the changes in your body and energy levels.