16 Reasons Why Eating Unrefined Salt Benefits Our Health
article by Andreas Moritz
Unrefined Salt Benefits – Important Functions of Real Salt in the Body:
- 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 of 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 those suffering from 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; 27 percent of the body’s salt content is located in the bones; salt deficiency and/or eating refined salt versus real salt are major 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; refined salt, such as the common table salt, has been stripped of all but two of these elements; In addition, refined, commercial salt contains harmful additives, including aluminum silicate, a primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Miracle of Unrefined Salt Benefits
Natural sea salt contains ninety-two essential minerals, whereas refined adulterated salt (a byproduct of the chemical industry) contains only two elements, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). When cells suffer from a dietary deficiency of trace elements, they lose their ability to control their ions. This has dire consequences on 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 a 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 natural salt
concentration rises in the blood, the salt will readily combine with the
fluids in the neighboring tissues. This, in turn, will allow the cells
to derive more nourishment from the enriched intracellular fluid. In
addition, healthy kidneys are able to remove these natural saline fluids
without a problem, which is essential for keeping the fluid
concentration in the body balanced. Refined salt, however, may pose a
great risk to the body. It prevents this free crossing of liquids and
minerals (see the reasons for this below), thereby causing fluids to
accumulate and stagnate in the joints, lymphatic ducts and lymph nodes,
and kidneys. The dehydrating effect of commercial salt can lead to
gallstone formation, weight increase, high blood pressure, and other
health problems.
The body requires salt to properly digest carbohydrates. In the
presence of natural salt, saliva and gastric secretions are able to
break down the fibrous parts of carbohydrate foods. In its dissolved and
ionized form, salt facilitates the digestive process and sanitizes the
GI tract.
Commercially produced table salt has just the opposite effect. To
make salt resist the reabsorption of moisture and, thereby, be more
convenient for the consumer, salt manufacturers add chemicals such as
desiccants, as well as different bleaches, to the final salt formula.
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 and kidney
and blood pressure problems are the most obvious consequences of
refined salt consumption. Refined salt is still added to thousands of
different manufactured foods. Some 50 percent of the American population
suffers from water retention (the leading cause of weight gain and
obesity). The consumption of large amounts of refined salt is much to
blame for that.
Before salt was commercially produced, it 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 hydroelectrolytic imbalance, a disorder that causes a
loss of the 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 and sunlight.
Many doctors warn their patients to stay away from sodium and
sodium-rich foods. However, to live a salt-free life means that you will
suffer an increased risk of mineral and trace mineral deficiencies, as
well as numerous related complications. Eating unrefined salt fulfills
the body’s need for salt without upsetting the hydroelectrolytic
balance. If your diet contains a good amount of potassium in natural
form, you should have no concern about being harmed by the relatively
small amount of sodium in real sea salt. Foods that are particularly
high in potassium are bananas, apricots, avocados, pumpkin seeds, beans,
potatoes, winter squash, and many other vegetables. However, if
potassium levels in the body drop below normal, sodium (even in natural
salt) can become a source of imbalance.
Celtic ocean salt (grayish in color) is a good product to ingest
because it is naturally extracted through sun drying. Other great salts
are sold at whole food stores such as Whole Foods MarketÒ or co-ops.
Some are multicolored; others have a pink color. Himalayan salt is
considered the best and most nutritious of all. The Hawaiian Black Sea
salt is also excellent, and it tastes great. If taken dissolved in water
or added to the water in which foods are cooking, these salts have
profound, positive effects at the cellular level. Unrefined salt also
helps to cleanse and detoxify the gastrointestinal tract, and it keeps
harmful germs at bay.
Refined Salt Vs Unrefined Salt: Refined salt has virtually NO benefits for the body.
On the contrary, it is responsible for causing numerous health problems, including gallstones. The only salt that the body can digest, assimilate, and utilize properly is unrefined, unprocessed sea salt or rock salt. For salt to be useful to the body, it needs to penetrate foods – that is, the moisture of the fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes must be allowed to dissolve the salt. If salt is used in its dry state, it enters the body in a non-ionized form and creates thirst (a sign of being poisoned). It causes further harm because it is not being properly assimilated and utilized.
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 alkaline properties
and provides you with important minerals and trace elements.