It’s becoming more and more generally recognized these days that healthy salt is important in our diets. Most of us have heard about how Celtic, Himalayan, Murray River Pink Salt and unrefined sea salt in appropriate quantities being actually healthy for us. I thought then I’d write a bit today on why that is and how it actually benefits our digestion, bowel function and skin.

Salt has for a long time copped a bad wrap due to it’s link with high blood pressure (hypertension) and rightfully so when it’s refined salt that we taking about such as found in your typical table salt and the salt which goes into processed foods. Unrefined (healthy) salt on the other hand is an entirely different matter though as it contains some 80 or more essential trace minerals, whereas refined salt has all of these trace minerals (other than sodium chloride) stripped out. The refining process also treats the salt to extreme heat, bleaching to make it white, whilst adding anti-caking agents to ensure it pours easily. It’s little wonder then that this refining (denaturing) process transforms salt into something that the body no longer recognizes as something it needs.  Refined salt in fact becomes much more like a poison to the body.

Celtic Sea Salt - notice grey tinge to colour

As mentioned, unrefined Sea salt contains all of the precious minerals our bodies need. These minerals make this type of salt a vital necessity. In the salty environment of amniotic fluid the human embryo grows over three billion times in weight. From the moment of conception onwards, humans are never without the need for salt. This is probably the best biological proof we have that the cellular structure is enhanced by salt.

Apart from having all of the minerals that will nourish your body, healthy salt keep your blood alkaline, and even increases the benefits you receive from other foods. Interestingly enough, sea salt is the most alkalizing food on the acid/alkaline spectrum. For this reason, we firmly believe that cooking with and sprinkling on high quality sea salt should not be just an “extra” in your diet but should become an essential component for helping you stay biochemically in balance.

So how does having healthy salt in your diet, relate to improved digestion, bowel function and skin?

To digestion, going back to the point about salt being the most alkalizing food on the acid/alkaline spectrum, salt is an excellent way to counteract excess acidity which we garner from taking on stress and too much acid forming foods/drinks such as meat, dairy, sugar, wheat, alcohol and coffee. Keep in mind too that once food passes beyond the acidic stomach environment the rest of the digestive system ( small intestines and liver ) rely on an alkaline environment to operate best. Good salt then acts as a digestive aid.

In respect to bowel function, again due to it’s alkalizing effect on the body, salt assists with digestion resulting in less issues at the other end. Less gas and mucus is produced when digestion runs smoothly meaning the bowel is then able to function with less obstruction. Secondly, salt also increases blood volume which in turn promotes stronger peristaltic muscle action of the bowel wall.  Related to this point of promoting increased blood circulation, adding Apple Cider Vinegar to your diet (which decreases blood viscosity) means that together they have an especially positive influence on bowel function. Finally, unrefined sea salt contains magnesium which promotes stronger muscle contraction.

As for salt and it’s influence on our skin, to begin with, boosting nutrient absorption through eating healthy sea salt will quickly supply your skin with the nutrients it needs to repair skin disorders, dryness, flakiness, and an uneven skin tone. Eating healthy salts will additionally help to regulate your sleep patterns so that your body can rest and repair itself to help you wake up looking refreshed and rejuvenated in the morning.

Furthermore, having healthy levels of sea salt in your body will reduce fluid retention, which often leaves your complexion looking dull, lackluster, and flat. If you have ever wondered what to do to get glowing and clear skin synonymous with youth, the simple answer is found in staying hydrated so that you can effectively flush toxins from your body. Eating the right kind of healthy salt works hand-in-hand with hydration because it will reduce unsightly and uncomfortable fluid retention so that your skin looks fresh and youthful.

What is the right amount of Salt to take daily then?

The first thing to consider here is that our salt needs vary everyday. Secondly there is no right amount of salt for everyone. For example, we do not all need 1 teaspoon of salt in our diet each day. Each of us has different needs, and those needs change daily and seasonally. Those of us who exercise regularly or are very active will need more salt. Additionally, men have more red blood cells and need more salt than women. In the end what it really comes down to though is becoming sensitive to your sense of body balance. By this I mean that you know you’ve overdone eating sugary, sweet foods (acid forming foods) when you start craving salty (alkaline forming foods) – or on the other hand if you’ve eaten too much salty foods and then crave sweet foods to balance it out. In other words, a diet containing a balance of all tastes; salty, sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent makes a lot of sense.

A good first up morning ritual is to add a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of healthy salt to water containing freshly squeezed lemon juice or to Apple Cider Vinegar.  View this link to Tara’s recent blog on Apple Cider Vinegar.

In Summary

Apart from the fact that healthy salt contains all the necessary trace minerals we need to function optimally, in our modern world characterized by lots of stress and acid forming foods, healthy salt’s highly alkalizing effect on the body is a powerful antidote.

To receive numerous healthy skin benefits from your daily salt intake, pass up the salt shaker and instead use unrefined Sea Salt. At Boda we stock Salt of the Earth , which is renowned as one of the healthiest salts available. It is made with natural cultivation methods passed down over centuries, where salt farmers stirred the ocean waters until crystals were formed. The sea salt was then harvested to be pure, chemical-free, and biologically active to give your body the essential minerals that it’s craving.