The Truth about Salt
Salt has always been controversial. It is a contributor to heart disease and high blood pressure but salt doesn’t have to be the enemy, yes for some people salt can exacerbate problems. For most people however, salt can actually be good for you. It is required to regulate the water content in our body, is essential for the functioning of our kidneys and is particularly helpful for our liver heart.
Eating the right type of salt is important and with so many options these days it can get confusing. I’m here to explain the differences between these options and the best salt for your family.
Table salt – we’re all familiar with plain table salt, that fine powdery type of salt that takes you right back to your childhood. If you’re still eating this type of salt I implore you to stop reading this right now and throw that salt in the bin! Table salt is highly refined and is devoid of any nutritional minerals at all. It is made up of sodium chloride, iodine, stabilisers (for the iodine) and anti-caking agents to prevent clumping so it will pour easier. Consumption of this type of salt has no benefit to your health at all and if over consumed can cause serious harm.
Sea salt – as the name suggests this type of salt is derived from the sea. Common misconceptions are that all salt comes from the sea but this isn’t true. Unless advertised as sea salt, the other forms are usually derived from salt deposits from under the ground left behind by seawater a long time ago. Sea salt can be refined or unrefined. Can you guess which one is better for you? Unrefined. Bingo! Quality unrefined sea salt can have up to 60 trace minerals, this is so helpful as the current state of our soils (even the most organic and fertile) are severely lacking in nutrients. Thankfully, trace minerals are still abundant in our oceans.
Celtic sea salt – This is the naturally moist salt harvested from the Atlantic seawater off the coast of France, using the Celtic method of wooden rakes and sun drying. The salt is unrefined and contains all of the 84 beneficial minerals found in seawater with no added chemicals or preservatives.
Himalayan salt – it’s hard to resist the pretty pink salt sitting alongside the plain white counterparts at the supermarket. Himalayan salt (or pink salt) comes from the Punjab region of Pakistan, deep below the Himalayan mountains, in some of the oldest salt mines on Earth. These salt deposits are believed to have been around since the creation of Earth, around 4 billion years ago! The pink colour is believed to be indicative of the mineral content, typically containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. Himalayan salt is believed to be one of the purest forms of salt due to its age and method of extraction.
My top picks – Himalayan salt, with Celtic sea salt a close second. Both are naturally processed and unrefined and contain the most beneficial nutrients and the least amount of human intervention.
Consume salt consciously – we do require salt for biochemical processes but remember there is such a thing as too much. Use in moderation, always taste your food before adding more salt and consider alternatives. A great addition to your pantry is Herbamare (which you can find in the health food section of most supermarkets). It is derived from Celtic sea salt and dried vegetables and is additive, gluten, milk, lactose and MSG free. And as always, be mindful of processed foods, as most if not all, contain a huge amount of sodium. It’s best to avoid processed foods entirely for so many reasons, and high salt content is just another very good reason!
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