People need adequate salt in order to maintain good health and replace what is lost on a daily basis through sweat and urination. In fact, the absolute minimum requirement for your body to function and sustain life is about 500 mg per day.
Sodium is a vital nutrient. All your cells maintain a sodium-potassium pump, which is very important for life. In fact, all livings things utilize salt, as it is essential for life. Sodium is also a major part of the fluid outside your cells, (referred to as extracellular fluid), but it also affects the fluid inside the cells. It is necessary to help maintain the right volume of plasma for normal cell metabolism. And, because sodium is found in the blood and lymph fluids, it is especially important for cardiovascular health.
In 2011 the Journal of the American Medical Association did a study demonstrating a low-salt zone where stroke, heart attack and death are more likely. The lowest risk from cardiovascular death was seen when excreting 1-1.5 teaspoons of sodium per day, and you can’t excrete 1-1.5 teaspoons if you aren’t taking in more than that.
In their study, they followed 3,681 subjects for 23 years and found that those on a low salt diet were more than 50% more were likely to die from cardiovascular causes than those who consume substantially more salt.
Since 2012 we have data suggesting that long-term sodium restriction may pose serious health risks, but major health organizations still recommend the restriction of salt for all Americans, regardless of blood pressure status. You might be surprised to know that sodium consumption around the world for over two hundred years has stayed within the range of 1.5-3 teaspoons a day, which appears to hold the lowest risk for disease, according to an analysis by the Weston Price Foundation.
There is a big difference in what type of salt you eat.
Unrefined sodium like Pink Himalayan, Celtic and Redmond’s Real salt represent the most beneficial salts available. They have a lot of nutritional benefits, as well. Unrefined salt contains over 80 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. So, while you’re enjoying it on your food, it’s also providing great nutrition.
Table salt, which is a refined salt, has a lot of unnatural interference. The heavy processing also eliminates the minerals. This refined salt is 97.5-99.9% sodium chloride, while the sodium chloride in unrefined salt is more in the range of 65-87%. Additionally, manufacturers often add an anti-clumping agent called yellow prussiate of soda to table salt. The actual chemical name of this additive is sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate. There is much debate as to whether or not it is toxic. Most commercial table salts also undergo a bleaching process and contain aluminum derivatives in addition to anti-caking agents.
According to the Lung Institute, salt is antibacterial (which is why it is great for curing or preserving meats) and anti-inflammatory. It helps loosen excessive mucus, speeds up mucus clearance, rids of pathogens in the air and decreases immune system oversensitivity.
This is why people have embraced Himalayan salt caves worldwide; they believe these caves help improve the respiratory system. The practice, known as halotherapy or salt therapy, has shown effectiveness in treating chronic bronchitis.
Pink Himalayan salt can also assist in balancing pH, which significantly impacts overall health. Proper pH supports greater immunity and healthy digestion. The chemical name for this mineral is sodium chloride. Chloride is essential for producing stomach acid, known as hydrochloric acid. Additionally, this mineral aids your body in absorbing and transporting nutrients in the intestines after they are broken down. Therefore, maintaining adequate levels promotes optimal digestive health.
Unrefined minerals are said to encourage better sleep.
Research in 1989 showed that low-sodium diets caused disturbed sleep. Those on 500 mg a day (about ¼ tsp) woke up twice as often, experiencing 10% less sleep than those at 2000 mg or 1 tsp. While that may seem small to you, consider that 48 minutes is 10% of 8 hours. That’s practically cutting an hour out of your sleep.
We also need common sense when using salt. Too much sodium without enough potassium to balance it out can lead to high blood pressure for some people, along with a buildup of fluid in those with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disease. It’s not good to be out of balance with your sodium and potassium. If your doctors have restricted your salt for these reasons, we are not here to contradict them. They are monitoring your situation. This is more of an issue when using refined salt.
Don’t be afraid of good, healthy unrefined salt. Use it freely on your food and to your tastes. Under our plan, you have removed a lot of bad sodium from your processed foods, so you are going to need a replacement.