Can you name the most popular seasoning on grocery store shelves? Most people overlook the obvious. It's table salt! But processed salt is not healthy.
Wait... what? Salt is salt, right? You go to the grocery store, grab a shaker off the shelf, and you're good to go. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. These days you have salt options ranging everywhere from table salt to garlic salt and salt from the Pink Himayalans. But perhaps the most important thing to remember is to separate the unprocessed salt from the processed stuff. If you're having trouble with the distinction between the two, processed salt is usually much cheaper.
If you eat a lot of salty foods, you might notice that you also crave salty foods. A 2011 study found salt is addictive. The brain responds to salt similar to how it responds to substances such as heroin, cocaine and nicotine. Too much salt can be deadly. Consuming processed salts can lead to many health problems, including:
There are plenty of "diet gurus" out there who might tell you to avoid sodium all together, but the truth is, your body needs it! Sodium helps regulate fluid levels in the body. While too much salt can lead to water retention and high blood pressure, too little might cause an iodine deficiency.
When it comes to salt, moderation is key. And making sure you're buying the unprocessed stuff can make a world of difference when it comes to your health. As a test, the next time you have a headache, try this twist on Pink Lemonade, and see for yourself.
The Dangers Of Table Salt
If you've never paid much attention to salt, you probably pick up table salt whenever you're running low. But table salt can be toxic to your body. During processing, all of the valuable minerals in the salt are removed in order to make room for man-made additives, often in the form of bleaching, drying and anti-clumping agents. As a result, the levels of iodine left over in table salt after processing isn't enough to keep healthy levels in your system. The levels of iodine needed to overcome and iodine deficiency would require an unhealthy level of salt intake.
If you eat a lot of salty foods, you might notice that you also crave salty foods. A 2011 study found salt is addictive. The brain responds to salt similar to how it responds to substances such as heroin, cocaine and nicotine. Too much salt can be deadly. Consuming processed salts can lead to many health problems, including:
- Muscle cramps
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Gallbladder Stones
- Kidney Stones
- Cellulite
- Rheumatism
- Digestion problems
Your Popular Seasoning Has A Healthier Alternative
Instead of table salt, look for a non-processed, natural salt the next time you go grocery shopping. Sea salt, mined from the sea, is a more natural form of salt that is higher in minerals than table salt. Icelandic Sea Salt has a wide range of trace minerals. But Sea Salt does come with a small risk of contamination. If you're looking for the most natural, beneficial salt on Earth, search for Pink Himalayan Salt. It's mined from ancient salt beds in the Himalayan mountains. It contains over 84 trace minerals and elements including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron.
There are plenty of "diet gurus" out there who might tell you to avoid sodium all together, but the truth is, your body needs it! Sodium helps regulate fluid levels in the body. While too much salt can lead to water retention and high blood pressure, too little might cause an iodine deficiency.
When it comes to salt, moderation is key. And making sure you're buying the unprocessed stuff can make a world of difference when it comes to your health. As a test, the next time you have a headache, try this twist on Pink Lemonade, and see for yourself.
