Salt is a hot topic. Is salt good for your health, or is salt bad for you?

Your Body Needs Salt!

Salt is a hot topic. Is salt good for your health, or is salt bad for you?

Here’s my guide to the best salt to support your body and your quest for better health.

The British Heart Foundation recommends a daily salt intake of no more than 6mg (roughly a tsp of salt), but to be clear here, that includes salt intake from everything you eat or drink that day. Butter, Salted Crisps and Nuts, for example, have added salt, so eating these things will contribute to your overall salt intake.

Processed foods are often loaded with salt, so while yes you do need salt in your diet, be mindful that some processed, takeaway or ready meals contain higher amounts of salt than if you prepared the food yourself.  Always read the labels on packaged foods so you can see how much salt has been added.

Why does your body need salt?

Your body needs salt, it’s an essential nutrient. It plays a vital role in aiding metabolism, greatly assists in regulating your sleep regulation, is very effective in stabilising irregular heartbeats, and aids digestion, detoxification and hydration. Salt helps maintain the right fluid balance in the body, ensuring that cells receive the nutrients they need and can get rid of waste.

Salt is vital for the prevention and treatment of cancer, it can also prevent the formation of cancer cells. It is a great form of nutrition which stops the body from ageing prematurely and increases the health of one’s biological age.

A grain of salt on the tongue can help with persistent dry coughs as it is a powerful natural antihistamine.

Refined Table Salt – a red flag for health.

Refined table salt, or sodium chloride, is not the best kind of salt for your health—think about it—table salt is known to make a good weed killer!

Why is table salt bad for you?  Because it is heavily processed and stripped of beneficial minerals.  Table salt can also contain unnecessary additives. This type of salt has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health issues. So, your first step to better health is to remove any table salt from your home and replace it with healthier alternatives.

The Benefits of Unrefined Salt.

In contrast, unrefined salts, such as Celtic Sea salt or rock salt, like Himalayan rock salt, contain trace minerals that support your body. These salts are less processed and retain their natural mineral content.

Here are some of the key benefits of these unrefined salts:

• Blood Sugar Balance: Salt is an essential nutrient, especially for diabetics. It helps balance the sugar levels in the blood and reduces the need for insulin in those who must inject it to regulate their blood sugar levels. Water and salt can reduce the extent of secondary damage to the eyes and the blood vessels associated with diabetes.

• Acidity Regulation: Salt balances excess acidity in brain and body cells.

• Fluid Balance: These salts regulate water content in the body, preventing both dehydration and overhydration.

• Natural Antihistamine: They serve as strong natural antihistamines, clearing congestion in the sinuses and mucus in the lungs.

• Heart Health: These salts help stabilize irregular heart rhythms.

• Can contain a wide variety of trace elements and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc

But just because this is a better salt for you, doesn’t mean you can go crazy with it!  You still need to keep a careful eye on your overall daily salt intake.

5 Top Tips for Healthy Salt Intake.

1. Add salt to your water: Add a pinch of good quality salt to every litre. This helps maintain electrolyte balance, boosts energy levels, and improves hydration. Ensure the water is of good

    quality and free from chlorine and other impurities.

2. Salt your food after tasting: To avoid overconsumption, always salt your food after tasting it.

3. Playing sport: If you’re an athlete, sports person or someone who sweats a lot, replenishing lost electrolytes is so important. Adding a pinch of unrefined sea salt to your water instead of using energy or sports drinks is the best thing for your body.

4. Prevent Light-Headedness: If you experience light-headedness upon standing up, this could be due to low blood pressure and low electrolyte levels. Adding good-quality salt to your diet can help prevent these symptoms.

5. Monitor your salt intake, remember if you’re eating processed foods, takeaways or ready meals these will most likely contain higher levels of salt

Salt, when chosen wisely, can have a positive impact on your health. Unrefined salts like Himalayan rock salt and Celtic Sea salt offer numerous health benefits.

By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can enhance your health and vitality. Experiment with these top tips and you’ll soon feel the positive changes in your

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