Long before the earth knew pollutants of any kind, ancient sea covered what is now North America. Pure, natural salt was the main ingredient of this sea, and over millions of years, the water in the sea evaporated, leaving the salt in undisturbed deposits. According to Ayurveda, organic rock salt (sindala and kala namak) is healthiest — it is known to be cooling, anti-acidic, anti-bileous, anti-phlegmatic, carminative and digestive. Natural crystal salt consists not only of two, but of all natural elements - 84 in number that are extremely beneficial for health.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH COMMON TABLE SALT?
Table salt has nothing in common with the original natural salt. Refined table salt is 99.99 percent sodium chloride, regardless of its origin. It is made of uniformly fine crystals — made fine by a 648 degree Celsius oven heating process and then flash-cooled. It is then combined with a number of additives; potassium iodine is added to salt to 'iodise' it, providing 'antigoitre' comfort. However, iodine is very volatile and oxidises immediately when exposed to light. Because of this, dextrose, a simple sugar, must be added to stabilise the iodine.
This gives birth to another problem: adding only the two ingredients of potassium iodine and dextrose would turn the salt purple. This is not marketable; therefore a little sodium bicarbonate is mixed in to bleach the colour which causes knee and joint pains. Finally, they are coated with a compound such as sodium silico aluminate to make the salt that is 'free flowing' in humid conditions.
In India, salt is iodised with Potassium lodate, the usage of which causes 42 diseases. Adults and children are at the risk of developing high blood pressure, obesity, degenerative diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disease because of the high levels of chemicals found in table salt.
Excessive salt is found in soft drinks, ketchups, cornflakes, cheese, namkeens, packaged foods, breads and biscuits. We can reduce the use of salt by consuming foods that have natural salt content like carrots, cabbage, guava, bajra, cucumber, radish, banana, fenugreek.
Herbs, garlic and lime when sprinkled upon food reduces the need of salt.
Sea salt versus Table salt — the Taste Test:
Naturally solar evaporated sea salt has a uniquely different taste, but don't believe me. Be your own judge by taking a simple taste test. Put a couple of table salt grains directly on tour tongue. Notice that the initial taste is sharp, salty, and acrid with a lingering flavor that can be harsh, metallic, and distinctly unpleasant.
Now, rinse your mouth and try several grains of sea salt. Notice a difference? It's taste is slightly sweet, smooth, pleasant, and satisfying. It's amazing to realize how sensitive taste buds can be. They have the ability to distinguish subtle differences of artificial ingredients versus natural advantage of being able to enhance the flavour of other ingredients.
Salt has other functions than just regulating the water content of the body. Here are some of the vital functions:
• Salt is most effective in stabilising irregular heartbeats. It is essential for the regulation of blood pressure in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.
• It is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the body cells, particularly brain cells.
• Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; an essential need for diabetics.
• Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cell bodies.
More than 5 gm of salt per day is not good. The effects of excess salt consumption are:
• Salt falls under the category of stress food. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system
• Excess salt can cause water retention in the body and therefore raise blood pressure.
• Since our kidneys cannot remove more than 4-5 grams of salt per day, excess intake puts a heavy burden on the kidneys
• Excess salt in the body means excess water too and thus an increase in weight
• Table salt is not completely soluble in water and hence tends to harden the arteries
• Deficiency of organic sodium in table salt results in bronchial and lung problems because organic sodium is required for the elimination of carbon dioxide from the body.
• Excess salt interferes with the elimination of certain wastes from the body, contributing indirectly, to various diseases like gout, etc.
ASSENSSING THE ESSENTIAL
Natural salt helps us in the following ways:
• Regulates the water content
• Vital to nerve cells communication and information processing
• Balances blood sugar levels; reduces aging
• Aids absorption of food in intestinal tract
• A natural antihistamine, it clears sinuses.
• Makes the bone structure firm.
The minerals found in rock and sea salt aid you in numerous ways:
Sodium : Cures acidity, gas and purifies blood
Chloride : Frees the body from foreign elements
Calcium : Formation and growth of bones
Phosphorous : Sharpens the mind
Iron : Helps in absorbing oxygen
Manganese : Balances salt in the body
Potassium : Strengthens nerves, heart and liver
Copper : Adds iron content to the body
Sulphur : Purifies blood and skin
Silicon : Strengthens eyes and ears
Magnesium : A general health tonic
Fluorine : Strengthens bones
BUT HOW CAN YOU SUBSTITUTE TABLE SALT?
• Rock salt ('Sandha' namak) is considered a better option. Deposits of rock salt are found in mountainous regions. The saturated solution is then pumped out and evaporated to get the salt. Rock salt is entirely soluble in water
• Black salt (Kala namak) is also considered better than table salt because it is organic in nature
• For those with high BP and kidney problems, all kind of salt consumption is restricted.
• Water and salt regulate the water content of the body to cleanse and extract the toxic wastes of cell metabolisms. Salt forces some water to stay outside the cells.
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