Salt is actually two very toxic substances which have been chemically combined, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Salt was originally used as a food preservative. But in ancient times when there were few spices available, salt began to be used to flavor foods. In small amounts salt is good for you and is actually necessary for good health. But when used in excess, it can become poisonous to the body.
The average American consumes about 6 to 18 grams of salt daily. The absolute limit should be set at 6,000 mg per day. Ideally we need much less. Your body actually needs only about 0.5 grams (500 mg) of salt each day. Adults should reduce their sodium intake to no more than 2300 mg per day. (To change milligrams of salt to milligrams of sodium, divide by 2.5) This is about 1 teaspoon of sodium chloride (salt). Reducing the amount of sodium consumed may help reduce or even avoid high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be responsible for heart disease and strokes.
About 12 % of our salt intake comes naturally from the foods we eat. The other 77% comes from processed foods.
It is possible to get enough sodium from a balanced diet. Most foods in their natural state contain sodium. Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with natural grains such as oats and brown rice (add only a little sea salt) are the healthiest foods to eat. The problems begin when we eat commercially processed foods. Consumers need to be aware of added sodium content . When buying prepared and prepackaged foods, read the labels. Many different sodium compounds are added to foods. They are required by law to be listed on food labels. Look for the words soda, sodium and the symbol Na on labels.
Listed below are some common sodium compounds:
Notice how all of the names (except baking powder) have sodium in the name or as a root word. Tricky, right! So the label may not appear to have too much sodium until you start looking at all of the names. Even some over the counter medications contain sodium.
Research has shown that increased salt intake aggravates asthma symptoms. Other conditions that may be affected by salt include Ménière’s disease, migraine headaches, gastritis, and kidney stones. Preliminary evidence also suggests that salt intake may affect certain types of cancer, including stomach, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. High levels of salt may even affect bone density. Short-term increases in dietary salt result in increased urinary calcium loss, which may cause bone loss over a long period of time. Other studies have shown a link between high salt intake and insulin resistance.
High salt intake may also cause edema in some people. High salt intake tends to lead to water retention that may promote the further accumulation of fluid beneath the skin.
Even though too much salt can cause the variety of problems listed above, salt is essential for good health. Eating natural salt provides your body with natural minerals, trace elements and living energy. This will help balance the electrolytes in fluids of your body, support proper nutrient absorption and toxin elimination. Natural salt is food, much like fruits, vegetables, grains, and water. Consuming natural salt will support and enhance good health, because it contains the original counterparts of table salt such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and other minerals & trace elements. Together, these minerals and trace elements keep the body in balance. A balanced body is a healthy body.
Sea salt contains 81 elements essential to our health. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its nutritional value. It also contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease. As with most processed food, table salt hurts you more than it helps you.
Here are some foods to avoid:
Experiments have shown that stress creates endrocrine changes in the brain which will stimulate the appetite for salt.
Animals respond to stress by releasing adrenocordiotropic (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary. This causes the adrenal cortex to secrete aldosterone and corticosterone. Aldosterone controls the sodium balance of the body by changing the kidney’s reabsorption of sodium and how much is then secreted by the body. Corticosterone increases blood glucose and carbohydrate metabolism to supply energy to the body. These two hormones stimulate the brain to secrete more of the neuropeptide angiotensin III. This stimulates thirst and the sodium appetite. In experiments, stress has been linked to increase sodium appetite in rats, mice, rabbits, cattle and sheep. (Stress, Behavior, and Sodium Appetite by Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.)
Basically, once we begin eating salt, we create a vicious circle which can destroy our health. Too much salt stresses the body by creating unbalanced states. When we feel stressed, we eat processed junk foods that are loaded with sodium, which stresses our bodies further. (Too much sodium weakens our immune systems, specifically our adrenals. ) As our body weakens we actually crave salt! So how do we stop?
Babies are not born with a craving for salt. Salt is an acquired taste. It is a very bad habit. And like any habits, it can be broken. Stop eating table salt and monitor the sodium which is in your foods. If you can just eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies for a few weeks, you will lose your salt cravings. As your body becomes healthier, you truly don’t want salt anymore.
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