How salt has been wrongfully vilified
Unsplash
HOW SALT HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY VILIFIED
Thanks to processed foods, which are very high in refined salt and make up a large part of the modern diet, salt has gotten a bad rap. But according to Ayurveda, the right salt can have great health benefits such as helping our digestion & elimination by keeping our GI tract hydrated, dissolving congestion, nourishing the nervous tissue and cleansing the overall body.
Salt has been wrongfully vilified… What we need to watch is our sodium intake, rather than our salt intake. In its raw form, salt is the primary delivery food for the essential and trace minerals our body uses for almost every bodily function. High sodium intake, on the other hand, can increase blood pressure and disturb the body’s electrolyte balance creating dehydration that can’t be helped by drinking water.
The majority of sodium in the Western diet comes from processed foods. If you eat mostly whole and unprocessed foods, then you don’t need to worry about adding some salt to your meals. But all salt is not created equal, so let’s look at the popular salt types and explore their nutritional properties so we can feel good about our everyday choices.
1. Table Salt
The regular salt we may buy at the grocery store or the salt that most restaurants use in their cooking is highly processed. Containing 97-99% of sodium chloride, this salt has been highly refined to be removed of its impurities but also trace minerals in the process — meaning that it’s heavily ground, separated from the minerals like potassium and magnesium that make up raw salt like pink Himalyan salt or sea salt. Table salt also contains additives… In addition to chemicals used in the refining process, it includes anti-caking agents, aluminum fluoride and iodine. While these additives are not labeled on the pack, they can create toxins in the body. Given its high sodium content, table salt is the strongest in flavor and the most heating of all salt types.
2. Sea Salt
Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. Depending on the water source, this leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements like potassium, iron and zinc with a bit lower amounts of sodium than plain table salt. The minerals add flavor and color to sea salt, which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels.
3. Mineral Salt
Mineral salt is harvested from ancient sea beds that have dried over thousands of years. It is mined from mountains, then washed and dried in a natural process. The most popular variety is pink Himalayan salt which contains 84 minerals that generations have historically gotten from food grown in rich soil but our current food often comes from overworked soil that is mineral poor. For this reason, mineral salt should be added to our cooking or in warm water to help restore minerals in the body, especially if you are the Air Mind & Body Type.
Mineral Salt for each Mind & Body Type
Take Yoom’s Mind & Body Type Quiz here
AIR: For AIR types, mineral salt helps to keep them warm, grounded and well hydrated as it combats dryness.
FIRE: For FIRE types, salt should be consumed in moderation, especially in hot Summer months, because it is warming and would increase their naturally hot constitution.
EARTH: For EARTH types, salt has beneficial warming qualities but should be consumed in moderation throughout the year because it causes water retention and can increase blood pressure for them.