Salt: which type and how much are you eating?

In the kitchen, there’s no ingredient more important than salt. Aside from being one of the five basic tastes, salt has properties that release food molecules into the air, giving the food an aroma – an integral part of taste. 

What Is Table Salt?

Commonly purchased iodised salts, available at super markets or sitting on your dining table have synthetic chemicals added to them. These chemicals include everything from manufactured forms of sodium aluminate, iodide, sodium bicarbonate, fluoride, anti-caking agents, toxic amounts of potassium iodide and aluminium derivatives. It may come as a shock, but most table salt is not only unhealthy, but can sometimes be toxic.

The natural forms of important iodine is lost when we manufacture salt. Without this natural iodine the thyroid is severely harmed, leading to growth and metabolism issues. Because of this, the chemical-based salt industry  adds synthetic forms of iodine to their products.

Salt found in the natural world is not usually white. Table salt has been coloured white with bleach. The table salt that you consume comes from mined from salt deposits left by salt lakes but a lot of it also comes from Crude oil extract. Yes!! Table salt is actually flaky residue from oil digging.

The Health Dangers of Salt!!

• Table salt causes the blood pressure to rise rapidly because the blood is attempting to move the toxic elements rapidly away from the heart. This is why doctors will often tell people with high blood pressure to stop intake of salt. 
• Moreover, excessive table salt causes us to retain waters and other fluids. Many chronic imbalances such as diabetes, gout and obesity can be worsened or even partially caused by excessive intake of common table salt. 
• Be aware, this salt is not just what you add to food, a lot of your consumption is hidden salt.
• Most packaged and processed foods contain astronomical amounts of the stuff. These preservatives can cause swelling and, over time, major kidney, thyroid and liver problems, as well as the development of goitres, oedema, hypertension, heart disease, strained elimination systems, muscle cramps, water retention, stroke, heart failure and even major nervous system disorders such as anxiety and depression.
• Table salt is particularly hard on both the circulatory system and nervous system. It also wreaks havoc on the delicate balance of the lymph system in the body. 
• This salt is also highly addictive, as the more the body becomes used to the high levels of fake sodium, the more it craves it.

Some healthier options to your regular Table salt:

Sea salt: Distilled from sea waters, this form can be fine or coarsely ground. Sea salt is unrefined and full of trace minerals that get absorbed into the food. There are several different varieties, colours and textures of sea salt that are intended for different uses. Sea salt does have a stronger and more interesting flavour. A little sea salt gives enough saltiness and you’ll use less of this high-quality salt but appreciate the flavour it imparts on your food.

Rock salt: Common iodised salt is formed after undergoing heavy refining processes. In order to make the salt look good, it is mechanically processed to be finer and whiter. This makes it lose all the mineral content. Whereas, rock salt is naturally crystallised and then mined, which retains its mineral richness. The result is, we don’t get salt but also a natural source of important as well as trace minerals.

Common salt has bleaching agents as well as anti-caking agents. Whereas, the Himalayan rock salt is devoid of any of these. The anti caking agent brings side-effects like constipation as well as kidney issues. 

Rock salt retains all its minerals as well as important electrolytes.It contains 6 electrolytes sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium.

1 Rock salt is found to be helpful in promoting digestion as well as improving loss of appetite.

2 Due to its trace elements, rock salt helps in boosting body’s metabolism. This further improves different body functions as well as the immune system of the body.

3 Rock salt is found to be useful in curing problems like rheumatic pain, inflammation, arthritis.

4 Having one spoon of rock salt along with water can be useful in fighting muscle cramps.

Black Salt: Kala Namak is digestive stimulant, which means it balances natural production of acids in the stomach and stimulates bile production in the liver. It helps digesting foods and increases appetite.

• Kala Namak is beneficial for acidity and heartburn. It reduces acid reflux and balances the acid production in the stomach.
• It is best to use it with coriander seeds powder, cumin seed powder and fennel seeds powder in equal proportion for maximum benefits in acidity and heartburn.

• Black Salt reduces intestinal gas and flatulence due to its anti-flatulent characteristic. It also helps heaviness in the abdomen after meal.
• If you have any of these problems, then you can use black salt with lemon water. Lemon water with black salt also helps improving digestion.
• Black Salt contains small amounts of iron compounds, which are highly beneficial for iron deficiency anemia.