Another Common Addiction: SALT

As promised in The Most Common Addiction: SUGAR, we now have the scoop on Another Common Addiction: SALT. To understand the information to come, we must first understand "What is Salt?" and "How Is Salt Used in the Body?"

Salt or Sodium?
Salt is a combination of sodium (40%) and chloride (60%) aka Sodium Chloride. 5 grams of salt (1 tsp) contains about 2 grams of sodium. Sodium (Organic Salt) is atomic number 11 on the periodic table with it's symbol being Na.

Sodium is an electrolyte (along with potassium and chloride) and is closely tied with the movement of water - as we may notice in the saltiness of ocean water. Remember, we are 70-85% water ourselves! Sodium is the primary positive ion found in the blood, body fluids, and every cell.

Our bodies must maintain a normal sodium - potassium balance which is KEY to life (and key to avoiding High Blood Pressure!) Sodium is concentrated OUTSIDE of your cells while potassium is mainly inside which is needed for normal muscle and nerve cell function. Proteins push sodium out of the cell and potassium into, thus helping the heart, lungs, and nervous system to function optimally. 60% of body sodium is in fluid around cells, 10% inside of cells, and 30% in bones, making sodium 0.15% of our body weight. Sodium is the primary intracellular mineral although it functions extracellularly when working with potassium.

A Brief History of Salt
Salt was in use long before history as we know it...

• Ancient Khemetic (Egyptian) art records salt making, salt for spiritual offerings, and as valuable for trade.
• 4700 years ago in China, the Peng-Tzao-Kan-Mu was published on pharmacology. A major portion of the writing was dedicated to over 40 kinds of salt as well as extraction methods that are similar to today.
• Ancient Greeks traded salt for slaves, giving birth to the term, "not worth his salt."
• Salt is also the root of the word Salary which originally referred to payment given to soldiers. This value may have led to it's overuse.
• Salt is rumored to have up to 14,000 uses - uses for way more than food! It can be used as a cleaning agent for blood, rust, copper, yellowed linens and even applied topically for beauty and health purposes such as cleaning teeth and treating poison ivy.
• The human species lived for centuries on a natural diet which contained less than 1 gram of sodium - Elevated blood pressure was not an epidemic.
• NOW 6-12 grams a day or more are consumed via processed foods, snacks, and salt added when preparing and consuming food.

Problems with Salt Consumption Today
Organic Salt or Sodium is an essential mineral and is naturally present in fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds. When natural foods are the only source of sodium, there will contain more potassium which will maintain balance and not lead to hypertension.The sodium in fruits and vegetables is complexed with other organic molecules, causing them to be absorbed slowly. In contrast, table salt is unbuffered and enters quickly through the stomach lining.

Sodium is easily absorbed in the stomach and intestines. Nearly 100% of sodium consumed gets absorbed into the body, into blood, and circulated through the kidneys which reabsorbs or eliminates in order to maintain stable blood sodium levels. The S.A.D diet (Standard American Diet) consumed by most Americans is in excess of sodium and must be eliminated through urine.

Most people can clear excess sodium chloride from their bodies but it makes the kidneys work harder. Over time, the kidneys may weaken from this chronic stress and be unable to clear the salt optimally. This may lead to high blood pressure.

Standard American Diet sources of Salt/Sodium

High salt diets and cultures have led to an epidemic in high blood pressure, especially in the United States. Other problems stem from sodium overconsumption such as PMS, water retention, and toxemia of pregnancy.  It is not uncommon for the average person to consume up to 12 grams of salt a day! We should limit salt to a maximum of 5 grams a day or 2 grams of sodium.

*RANDOM FACT* In China, a traditional method of suicide was drinking water saturated with table salt. One ounce of salt causes the body to hold six pounds of excess fluid. Salt in large quantities can be lethal!

When you eat salty foods the body has to compensate to maintain homeostasis. If you eat salty foods for a long period of time, as with caffeine, heroin and nicotine, the body becomes dependent on salt to maintain balance. Therefore reducing salt intake can create physical withdrawal. This is how Salt becomes addicting!

While almost all foods contain some sodium, no wholesome natural food has a high salt content. Only the Western diet of processed foods has a high salt content. Avoid foods such as these - they are LOADED with sodium!:

Breads	Cheeses	Pickles	Crackers	Peanut Butter	Bacon	Ketchup
BBQ Sauce	Chips	Olives	Bologna	Mayonnaise	Corned Beef	Hot Dogs
Baking Soda	Soy Sauce	Tamari	Salad Dressing	Mustard	Steak Sauce	Popcorn
Ready Made Gravy		Pretzels		Canned Goods	Table Salt/Morton's

***The above mentioned foods are high in both salt AND preservatives.

"But isn't Iodized Salt GOOD for me?"
Let's first look at Iodine itself.
Iodine is a chemical element that is essential for normal thyroid function. The thyroid influences all body functions such as nerve and bone formation, reproduction, speech, mental state, and the function of skin, hair, nails, and teeth.

Commercial, Iodized salt such as Mortons is overused, overprocessed and contains harmful ingredients such as aluminum and other unneeded and unwanted chemicals. These highly processed, refined salts contain no essential minerals.

**RANDOM FACT** In CHEMISTRY, a salt is ANY combination of a positive and negative ion in crystalline form or in solution. Tricky, tricky scientists...

The life from OCEAN WATERS procides the best source of iodine.

• Kelp is the most common high - iodine sea vegetable, rich in minerals, low in sodium and a good seasoning substitution for salt.
• Sea Salt is another natural source of iodine. It is less processed - if at all - than standard table salt. It still contains trace minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, and zinc.

With good soil, (minerals are absorbed from the soil) other iodine sources are onions, mushrooms, lettuce, spinach, green peppers, pinapple, canteloupe, and strawberries.

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There is no real need for added salt/sodium in the diet. Our bodies function best with a low sodium intake. If you MUST use salt, choose a mineral rich option such as:

• Kelp Powder
• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
• Hawaiian Red or Black Sea Salt
• Kala Namak or Black Salt
• any other natural gourmet sea salts

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Brooke Johnson aka Brooke Jay is a Social Entrepreneur, Certified Nutrition Consultant, and Wellness Coach, for RAW! on Wheels, a DMV based live vegetarian service.

RAW! offers Meal Plans, Juice Cleanses, Coaching, Catering, Care-giving, & more!

 

http://www.RAWexclamation.com

 

 

Contact her directly at BJohnson@rawexclamation.com