Salt is vital for life. You simply cannot live without it. Yet, over the years, salt has been given a bad name due to it being excessively processed and altered. AKA table salt. Today, I'm going to talk about the major differences between common table salt and himalayan pink salt. One, has extremely negative side effects while the other is vital for energy, hydration and high performance.
Table Salt ::
Table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals...Yuck! This salt is then dried at 1,200 degrees F, which completely alters the natural structure of the salt, and then it's chemically cleaned. The sodium chloride in your table salt is really hard on your body's elimination systems and then also upsets the fluid balance in your cells. Why is this important? When you can't eliminate toxins or excess fluid from your body it results in cellulite, arthritis, kidney stones and not to mention makes you feel sluggish and puffy. (mercola). With this kind of information, salt sounds pretty terrifying! To avoid chemical or table salt, it's important to choose natural, whole foods rather than processed foods that come in a package or jar. Processed foods are pumped full of table salt and wreak havoc on your body.
Himalayan Pink Salt ::
Himalayan pink salt is packed full of 84 trace minerals and electrolytes which perform regulatory and structural functions in the body. According to Dr. Mercola, some of the health benefits of himalayan salt include hormone balance, detoxification, ph balance in your cells, blood sugar health, bone strength, an increase in libido and less muscle cramping. Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof coffee and my "guru", recommends mixing a half a teaspoon of himalayan pink salt in water first thing in the morning to help jumpstart your adrenal glands and give you sustained energy throughout the day. This "white gold" is the secret little seasoning that most of us are completely missing out on in our meals. Did you know that a craving for junk food may actually just be your bodies reaction to not having enough full spectrum salt in your diet?
So, here's the bottom line. Much like healthy fats, which for years we all thought was terrible for our health, the right kind of salt is essential for a healthy body and mind. Do your best to stay away from processed foods with salt (think processed beef jerky, crackers, breads and low quality cheese) because those contain processed table salt. Instead, opt for the good stuff (I like this brand of himalayan salt) and salt the heck out of your eggs, kale chips, steak and even your water! And, although celtic sea salt is a major improvement from table salt, our oceans are being heavily polluted and many times sea salt absorbs those pollutants, so stick with himalayan.
I'd love to hear how you feel after adding more himalayan salt to your diet. Do you notice that you have more energy? Are you less bloated? Do you have less cravings? Leave a comment below!
Sources :: Mastering the Mid Day Recharge, 13 Amazing Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt by Dr. Mercola, Empowered Sustenance,