Untitled Document
Common salt, also known as sodium chloride, is an omnipresent ingredient used for seasoning in everyday foods. It is available in a range of diverse forms and particles, depending on the proposed use. Along with its culinary usage, it is also used as a food preservative.
The salt/water ratio is critical for the metabolic rate of our body. Sodium facilitates sending signals to our nerves and muscles and helps sustain the fluid content inside and outside the blood cells. The salt concentration in a solution used by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to cleanse wounds is the same as is present in human blood i.e. 0.9% sodium chloride. Dietary salt exists in various forms: unrefined, refined (also known as table salt) and iodine-fortified salt.
Health Benefits of Salt
Salt offers a variety of health benefits, which are explained below.
Prevents Iodine Deficiency
Iodized salt is one of the most common sources of iodine. Iodine is vital for manufacturing the thyroid hormone. It is a very important part of our diet, as the body does not naturally produce iodine. Without adequate amounts of iodine, the thyroid enlarges in an attempt to keep up with the body’s demand for thyroid hormone. This may result in serious conditions like the development of goiter or hypothyroidism.
The body also requires thyroid hormones for the appropriate development of the brain and bone structure during pregnancy and the early development years of young children. If the expectant or the lactating mothers are iodine deficient, the children can suffer from an intellectual disability, formerly known as mental retardation. An adequate intake of iodized salt can prevent such deficiencies and fatal results.
Oral Rehydration
Salt is essential for sustaining the hydration levels of the body. It is extremely vital to maintain the electrolyte balance for the smooth functioning of the organs. These electrolytes primarily entail magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium.
For people who work outside and especially those who regularly workout, it is crucial to recover both salt and water shortages that occur through perspiration. When the body is dehydrated and diseases like cholera and diarrhea weaken the system, doctors advise using a blend of water, sugar, and salt to compensate for the lost fluids. This solution is as effective as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
Improves Cardiovascular Health
It has been proven that dietary salt determines the blood pressure of the body and has an impact on cardiovascular health, which is primarily related to strokes and heart attacks. High blood pressure or hypertension is a major cause of such events. Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium, and sodium can cause health issues. Controlling the intensity of your salt intake often affects the blood pressure.
Low blood pressure (a reading below 90/60) can be managed by consuming more salt and hydrating fluids. This will help boost the volume of blood in the arteries, resulting in a rise in blood pressure.
Manages Diabetes
Healthy levels of insulin are required to maintain a fit body. Diets with low levels of salt can weaken the body’s sensitivity towards insulin. This reduces the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, providing poor levels of energy to the liver, muscles, and nervous system, possibly leading to type 2 diabetes.
Intravenous Saline IV Solution
Patients suffering from conditions like heart failure or acute diarrhea are given medication intravenously. When it is not possible to consume anything orally, saline IV solution is administered in the hospitals to bring back optimum hydration levels of the body’s cells.
Ensures Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnant mothers are required to ensure a healthy diet in order to keep their own body and the developing baby healthy. Along with other dietary needs, adequate salt intake is recommended by doctors to maintain good health.
Prevents Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is a condition in which the body suffers from a shortage of sodium (salt) in the fluids present outside the cells. This can be caused by over-hydration with water, perspiration, or diarrhea, and is also known as water intoxication.
To maintain healthy blood pressure and smooth functioning of your nerves and muscles, the body needs an adequate amount of sodium. When this optimum level of sodium falls, water enters the cells to compensate. This results in an imbalance of water to the salt ratio in the body, causing swelling in the cells because of excess water.
Barring brain cells, this swelling is not a threat for most of the cells, but since the brain cells are restricted inside the skull-frame, this swelling in the brain cells leads to hyponatremia.
Combats Sun Stroke
Heatstroke is a condition that occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system falls short. This can occur both by being out in the hot sun for a long duration as well as overheating in the surrounding environment, such as work areas. The body fails to release heat properly to attain its normal temperature. As a result, the body temperature becomes too high, which poses a threat to the major organs. In an attempt to cool itself down, the body produces more sweat through the sweat glands, thereby losing essential salt (sodium) and water.
Elderly people and small babies are at greater risk of heatstroke since their body’s thermostat lack efficiency. Prevention of heat or sunstroke is always advisable by keeping the body hydrated and consuming adequate amounts of salt in order to maintain the electrolyte balance. A person suffering from heatstroke can be treated by offering water or fluids that contain sugar and salt.
May Aid in Treating Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is caused by a malformed protein that prevents the optimum movement of salt and water in and out of the body’s cells, resulting in very sticky, salty sweat. This can be tested by diagnosing the salt content of the perspiration. In cystic fibrosis, the body loses more salt than normal. Infants suffering from cystic fibrosis need extra salt as both infant milk and breast milk is low in sodium. The salt content should be cautiously increased only after a discussion with a specialist.
Maintains Dental Hygiene
Painful bacterial infections like trench mouth can cause ulcers in the gums, which can be subsided using a saltwater rinse. The rinse can be prepared by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of salt mixed with 1 cup of warm water. It helps reduce swelling and soothes sore gums. As a preventive oral hygiene measure, cleaning the teeth with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and baking soda in 1 qt. of warm water helps clean plaque, whiten the teeth, and keep the gums healthy.
Treats Sore Throat
Pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, can be alleviated by repeated gargling with a cup of warm water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt.
Relieves Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps can occur due to various reasons such as alcoholism, exercise, or medications. The intake of fluids and drinks that contain salt can be helpful in providing relief.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Research studies indicate that the use of nasal irrigation using saline or salt water helps in treating nasal and sinus problems.
Other Benefits
Soaking your tired feet in warm water mixed with salt helps in relieving pain. It is good for exfoliation as well because it removes dead skin particles.
How much of Salt Intake is Healthy?
Doctors recommend no more than 6 grams of dietary salt (i.e. 2.5 grams of sodium) on a daily basis. This makes it approx. 1 teaspoon of salt per day. A good amount of that (about 75%) is already present in processed meats, breakfast cereals, and bread. Babies less than one year should not consume more than 1 gram of salt, whereas the recommended intake for young children changes as they grow bigger.
Some food labels only display the sodium content present in the food item. However, you can calculate the salt content by using an easy formula to find out how much actual salt you are eating in the disguise of sodium. Salt content in the food item = 2.5 * (sodium content)
- If the amount of salt per 100-gram serving is more than 1.5 grams i.e. 0.6-gram sodium, then it is considered to have a high salt content.
- If the amount of salt per 100 gram serving is less than 0.3 grams i.e. 0.1 gram sodium, then it is considered to have a low salt content.
Some foods with high salt content are tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, and anchovies.
It can either benefit or harm an individual, depending on their age and condition. A recent study suggests that intake of a high-salt diet increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetics so it is advisable to opt for a low salt diet in case of diabetes. One needs to be very cautious about its use in order to maintain a healthy body since both the excess and shortage of salt have their respective consequences.
Untitled Document
19 Amazing Benefits Of Sea Salt
Sea salt is commonly associated with spa days and relaxation. Good news for us, there are many health benefits associated with sea salt. They include skincare, improved dental health, and relief from pain and cramps. Furthermore, it is beneficial for exfoliation, nasal and eye wash, and an improved electrolytic balance of the body.
What is Sea Salt?
Sea salt, also known as bay salt, is produced by the process of evaporation of salt water bodies. It is darker in color as compared with refined salt due to the absorption of essential minerals from the clay lining of the body of water. Normally, the harvesting of refined table salt involves heavy processing, including mining followed by iodizing, bleaching, and diluting the salt with anti-caking agents. More chemicals are added during the processing of salt, which often steals all of its beneficial minerals and trace elements, except sodium and chloride.
Unlike refined salts, the preparation of sea salt usually includes very little processing, so it retains its moisture and mineral treasure. These minerals are present in a form that is easily utilized and absorbed by the human body. The climate and the geographical location of the region also play a significant role in the quality and combination of minerals offered by sea salt.
The Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the North Sea are the most common hubs for harvesting sea salt. The method involved in harvesting also helps retain its natural state and therapeutic qualities. In ancient times, sea salt was valuable for healing hand injuries and wounds of fishermen.
Celtic sea salt is harvested differently from traditional sea salt and uses conventional Celtic methods. These methods involve working and collecting the salt entirely by hand, using only wooden tools. It does not contain harmful chemicals or additives that are usually added to refined salt to prevent it from clumping.
Nutritional Value of Sea Salt
Sea salt derives 82 essential trace nutrients from the mineral treasure trove present in seawater, according to the Journal of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. These natural minerals are valuable for the healthy functioning of the body. The nutritional wealth of sea salt includes vital minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bromide, chloride, iron, copper, and zinc, among other beneficial elements.
Health Benefits of Sea Salt
Sea salt consists of a similar assortment of minerals and natural healing elements as those found on skin cells. Therefore, it is often used as a perfect ingredient to be used for therapeutic treatments and beauty products.
Skin Care
The mineral content in Dead Sea salt has long been appreciated for its rejuvenating effects on the skin. Bathing in sea salt solution helps in keeping the skin moisturized and revitalized. Dead Sea salt baths also help in improving the skin barrier function and eliminating the roughness and inflammation on the skin’s surface.
Research published in the International Journal of Dermatology has shown that this anti-inflammatory effect is attributed to the presence of a high content of magnesium in these salts. It also helps in the detoxification of the body by flushing out toxins from the pores, while also aiding in improving circulation.
Oral Health
Sea salt contains fluoride, which is beneficial for promoting dental health. Fluoride aids in protecting the teeth from acidic damage and prevents the development of caries and cavities. Regular rinsing and gargling with tepid sea salt water help alleviate mouth sores, bleeding gums, ulcers, and the pain of sore throats. While fluoride is now added to the water in many countries around the world, sea salt was particularly important in the early 20th century, when many some countries did not have access to it this way.
Relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dead Sea salts have been proven to be effective in providing therapeutic relief to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. One study showed that participants in baths containing these salts demonstrated significant improvements in such ailments as compared to normal sodium chloride baths. These results are promising for an effective, natural method for providing relief in this population.
Encourages Exfoliation
Sea salt finds another use in the cosmetic industry in the manufacturing of scrubs and other skin care products like antiperspirants and deodorants. Exfoliation with sea salts helps remove dead skin particles, tone up the skin tissues, encourage peripheral blood circulation, and also promote skin renewal. Unlike table salt, the granular texture of sea salt works very well in providing clean and smooth skin.
Relieve Symptoms of Psoriasis
Sea salt is considered to be a natural remedy useful for the treatment of psoriasis, along with the appropriate medication. Use of sea salt has shown noteworthy improvements in patients suffering from skin conditions like itching and scaling. The efficacy of balneotherapy, which is done using a sea salt treatment with mudpacks and sulfur baths on those suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis has also demonstrated promising results with respect to a reduction in spinal pain and increased flexibility of the spine.
Improves Pain in Osteoarthritis
One small study demonstrated improvements in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis after treatment using balneotherapy with Dead Sea salt. In addition to this, some patients were able to sustain their improved health parameters even after a few weeks, unlike those who took the bath treatment with normal sodium chloride.
Rhinosinusitis
Research studies have proven that the Dead Sea salt solution is also effective in providing relief from rhinosinusitis. The study also concluded that nasal irrigation and sprays done with sea salt showed better symptomatic relief as compared to those made of hypertonic saline solution. The anti-inflammatory effects of Dead Sea salts make them a natural and healthy alternative for relieving nasal allergies and other respiratory disorders; other remedies, such as nasal steroids have side effects like inflammation that can lead to mucus secretion. The mineral content present in Dead Sea salt may help alleviate swelling and congestion, as well.
Maintains Electrolyte Balance
Sea salt helps in maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance in the body, which is necessary for maintaining optimum blood composition and circulation, muscular strength, and overall functioning of the body. Minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium contribute to the electrolytic equilibrium of the body. Sea salt aids in maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure and helps normalize irregular heartbeats.
Gives Relief from Acne
Sea salts contain sulfur, which may help in cleansing and treating skin conditions like dermatitis and acne scars.
Relaxes Aching Feet
Soaking your tired feet in a warm sea salt solution helps relax the muscles, and relieve the soreness and pain in your aching feet.
Encourages Restful Sleep
Many consider that sea salt baths have a calming and soporific effect, thus helping in inducing profound and rejuvenating sleep.
Possible Relief from Muscle Cramps
Sea salt is thought to be beneficial in relieving muscle cramps by many. While the need for the salt to help to cramp is considered a myth in the science world, why it happens is still unexplained. It is possible that and essential minerals, like magnesium and potassium, have therapeutic and rejuvenating qualities, thus making sea salts a natural remedy to cure aches and pains. Even if it is not proven, many find that sea salt helps in easing any stiffness and discomfort caused by muscle fatigue and tension.
Eye Care
A sea salt solution is considered an effective homemade remedy for relieving puffiness around your tired eyes. A sea salt compress aids in reducing the dark circles and sagging bags under the eyes, while inducing a calming, stress-relieving effect.
Reduces Acidity
Sea salt is thought to help in alkalizing the cells of the body by facilitating the excretion of excess acids through urination. According to many who follow the alkaline diet, this helps in maintaining the optimal acid-alkali ratio of the body. While there is much more research on this topic to be conducted, some research reviews suggest that there may be some validity in following an alkaline diet to reduce morbidity in the future.
Culinary Uses
Sea salt is also valued for its distinct flavor and is added to various recipes across all cultures, particularly in French and Thai cuisine.
While it is delicious to eat, sea salt should be consumed in appropriate quantities. Irrespective of the type of salt, excessive intake of one type of salt may lead to many health ailments, like edema or high blood pressure, which can pose a risk for other medical conditions.
Source