The Miracle of Unrefined Salt
Natural sea salt contains 92 essential minerals, whereas refined, adulterated sea salt contains only two elements, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). When there is a dietary deficiency of trace elements, cells lose the ability to control their ions. This has dire consequences for the human body. Even if ion equilibrium is lost for just one minute, cells in the body begin to burst. This can lead to nervous disorders, brain damage or muscle spasms, as well as breakdown of the cell-regenerating process.
When ingested, natural sea salt (reconstituted seawater) allows liquids to freely cross body membranes, blood vessels walls and glomeruli (filter units) of the kidneys. Whenever the sodium chloride concentration rises in the blood, the water in the neighboring tissues is attracted to that salt -rich blood. This, in turn, allows the cells to re-absorb the enriched intra-cellular fluid. Healthy kidneys remove the saline fluids easily. The presence of refined salt, however, poses a great risk to the body. It prevents this free crossing of liquids and minerals, thereby causing accumulated fluids to stagnate in joints, lymph ducts, lymph nodes and the kidneys. Its dehydrating effect can lead to gallstone formation and numerous other health problems.
The body requires salt to properly digest carbohydrates. In the presence of natural salt, saliva and gastric secretions are readily able to break down the fibrous store of carbohydrates. In its dissolved and ionized form, salt facilitates the digestive process and sanitizes the gastro-intestinal tract.
In contrast, commercially produced table salt has just the opposite effect. To make salt resist re-absorption of moisture and, thereby, be more convenient for the consumer, salt manufacturers add chemicals as desiccants, as well as different bleaches, to the final salt formula. The bleaching agents make the grayish-looking salt look snow-white. The salt also contains other harmful additives, including aluminum silicate, a primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease. After undergoing processing, the salt can no longer blend or combine with human body fluids. This invariably undermines the most basic chemical and metabolic processes in the body. Water retention, kidney and blood pressure problems are the most obvious consequences of salt consumption. Too much sodium can also cause muscle cramps, fatigue, irritability, confusion, muscle weakness, abdominal bloating, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Refined salt is still being added to thousands of different foods. Over fifty percent of the American population suffers from water retention (the leading cause of weight gain and obesity). A good percentage of this problem can be attributed to the wide use of commercially produced salt.
Before it was commercially produced, versus naturally harvested, salt was considered the most precious commodity on earth, even more precious than gold. During the Celtic era, salt was used to treat major physical and mental disturbances, severe burns and other ailments. Research has shown that seawater removes hydro-electrolytic imbalance, a disorder that causes loss of immune response, allergies and numerous other health problems.
In recent years, salt has earned a bad reputation and people have learned to fear it, in the same way they fear cholesterol. Many doctors warn their patients to stay away from sodium and sodium-rich foods. But living salt-free lives, on the other hand, means having increased risk of mineral and trace mineral deficiency, as well as numerous other complications. Eating unrefined salt fulfills the body’s need for salt without upsetting the hydro-electrolytic imbalance. If your diet contains a good amount of potassium in natural form, you should not have any concern about being harmed by the relatively small amount of sodium in sea salt. Foods that are particularly high in potassium are bananas, apricots, avocados, pumpkin seeds, beans, potatoes, and winter squash. When potassium levels in the body drop to below normal, sodium may become a source of imbalance.
Celtic ocean salt and unprocessed rock salt are excellent salts. Celtic salt is naturally extracted through sun drying, and rock salt is millions of years old sea salt harvested from deep within the crust of the earth. Apart from having a delicious taste (in contrast to the sharp taste of commercial salt), these salts also have a detoxifying effect on the gastro-intestinal intestinal tract. For salt to be beneficial for your health, it needs to penetrate foods, thereby allowing the moisture of the fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, etc. to dissolve the salt. If salt is used in its dry state by adding it to your food afterwards, it enters the body in a non-ionized form and creates thirst (a sign of being poisoned). This occurs, for example, when you eat salted chips or popcorn. Since the salt is not being properly assimilated and utilized in that form, it may lead to other disturbances as well.
You may dissolve a pinch of salt in a small amount of water and add that to fruit or other foods that are not usually cooked. This will aid in the digestion of those items while helping to de-acidify the body. Adding a pinch of salt to drinking water generates alkalinity in the body and provides you with important minerals and trace elements. It may be worth mentioning at this point that food should taste delicious, but not salty, in and of itself. Pitta body types require less salt than other body types. Celtic salt or other wholesome salts are not only delicious, but also essential for good health.
Benefits of Real Salt
• Stabilizes irregular heartbeat and regulates blood pressure – in conjunction with water.
• Extracts excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.
• Balances sugar levels in the blood, which is particularly important for diabetics.
• Is essential for the generation of hydroelectric energy in the cells in the body.
• Is vital for the absorption of nutrient components through the intestinal tract.
• Is needed to clear the lungs of mucus and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.
• Clears up catarrh and congestion in the sinuses.
• Is a strong natural antihistamine.
• Can prevent muscle cramps.
• Helps prevent excess saliva production. Saliva that is flowing out of the mouth during sleep may indicate salt deficiency.
• Makes bones firm. Twenty seven percent of the body’s salt content is located in the bones. Salt deficiency and/or eating refined salt versus real salt are leading causes of osteoporosis.
• Regulates sleep; acts as a natural hypnotic.
• Helps prevent gout and gouty arthritis.
• Is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.
• Can prevent varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.
• Supplies the body with over 80 essential mineral elements.