Salt: An Essential Nutrient
It’s shocking how many essential nutrients have been stripped from our diets all in the name of health! Salt is one of these micronutrients that the industrialized food corporations have demonized as the root cause of disease all while feeding us fake foods as a healthier alternative. No doubt, the inferior stuff that manufacturers are packing into foods at astronomical quantities is not healthy, but real salt is essential. Quality grade salt in just the right amount feeds the body much needed minerals and facilitates a number of physiological processes.
Benefits: Salt is a critical nutrient that plays a role in supporting & restoring proper electrolyte & fluid balance. It is found in blood, tears, urine and sweat. Our need for salt and other minerals may increase during periods of exercise, sweating, urination, and healing. For this reason it is a key ingredient in my Herbal Hydration Lemonade (See Recipe Below). Salt also aids in transporting nutrients inside cells so the body can use them. Additionally, salt is involved in regulating blood pressure, the process of nerve impulse and signals, and gastric acid secretions. Salt is even considered therapeutic for some conditions such as POTS, an autonomic disorder where blood pressure is low or fluctuates on standing.
Excess Salt Side Effect: It would be irresponsible for me not to mention that like most things, salt in certain populations or in excess can have negative effects. It is also important that we start to recognize that the sodium added to processed foods is not the same as the mineralized salt you should be using. Side effects of excess salt intake might include high blood pressure, increased risk of kidney & heart disease. Please consult with your health & wellness professional to determine your personal optimal salt intake amount.
Energetic & Properties: Traditional Chinese Medicine considers salt Cooling & Moistening as it clears heat and helps with eliminating toxins. Salt is believed to affect the TCM organs: kidney, small intestines, and spleen.
Herbs to Consider: Seaweeds like Bladderwrack & Sea Moss stand out as sources of salt and you can literally taste the salt in these ocean herbs. I also like to use Stinging Nettles (See Firefly Farmstead Shop) for their micronutrient rich properties.
Table Salt V/S Mineral Salt: Many people don’t realize how much the type of salt you consume matters. There is a huge difference between regular table salt and the salt we are talking about here. Table is strictly sodium whereas mineralized salts may have minerals and micronutrients and electrolytes like calcium, selenium, and potassium. The origins and quality controls of table salt are generally not defined in product labels. These may come from areas known to have high toxin levels and some are high in heavy metals like arsenic and lead. Premier mineralize salts will outline country of origin, mining methods, and testing results.
Which Salt We Use: One of my favorite salts is Frontier Himalayan Pink Sea Salt. Redmond's Real Salt is another great option that is produced in America. Both are said to have over 80 minerals and nutrients. I like to add a little seaweed to my salt as well to give it added flavor, iodine and other healing benefits Check out our family favorites featuring this nutrient below Herbal Hydration Lemonade. See our Watermelon Slushie Recipe & learn why we add salt to our watermelon in the South in the Summer Superfood Watermelon article.
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Ditch Your Gatorade for this:
LEMONADE HERBAL HYDRATION Recipe
Ingredients
2 Cups of Water
1 Cup of Prickly Pear Cactus Juice
2 teaspoons Nettles
2 teaspoons Lemon Balm
Fresh Lemon Juice to taste
⅛ teaspoon Mineral Salt (we use Frontier Pink Himalayan Salt)
Maple Syrup to taste (optional)
Add dried herbs to a quart jar.
Infuse in a sunny spot for several hours.
Strain herbs from the jar and add prickly pear cactus juice.
Add lemon juice to taste. Younger kids may prefer less lemon or orange juice in place of lemon.
Sprinkle in mineral salt
Drizzle in Maple Syrup (optional)
Stir well and pour over ice
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