5 Benefits of adding natural salt to your diet
1. Helps you stay hydrated- Really!
To stay better hydrated, your body needs a delicate balance of sodium and potassium. This is because water in your body “follows” sodium, so if you have too much, or more importantly, the wrong kind, , then your body will retain water. Potassium works to balance this out, which is why sea salt is much better than sodium chloride or table salt. Sea salt like Celtic or pink Himalayan contains both sodium and potassium, which helps balance your levels naturally.
2. Promotes good vascular health
Sea salt specifically actually has protective effects against heart disease. Again, it’s important to differentiate between sea salt and table salt, which is much less beneficial due it’s nonexistent mineral profile. The findings on how sea salt helps heart disease markers directly contradict the years of recommendations against salt in diets –Note! it’s important which type of salt you’re using.
3. Balances electrolytes and prevents muscle cramping
Sea salt is an excellent source of electrolytes, which has been shown to prevent muscle cramping during exercise. Sea salt contains sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, all of which you need for optimal health. These minerals must come from your diet because your body can’t create them. Without sufficient electrolytes you can experience irregular heartbeat, fatigue, nausea, and even seizures.
Many readers will have heard me suggest to use a pinch- a Small pinch- of Celtic gray salt in their water bottles each refill, if not daily, just for electrolyte balance.
4. Supports a healthy nervous system
Sodium regulates water flow throughout your body, which is critical for a healthy nervous system. The water of your nervous system requires salt for electrical conduction to send and receive nervous system signals. As with other functions of the body, your brain needs the right balance of sodium to other electrolytes, which is why sea salt is a much better option than table salt.
5. Improves sleep
When you read about salt and sleep, it initially appears there are mixed reports. But if you pay close attention, you’ll realize that the advice against eating salt before bed is referring to table salt and processed foods, which can cause an unbalanced amount of sodium in the body. Sea salt is thought to improve sleep because it contains so many helpful electrolytes for regulating hormones.
When you swap table salt for a natural salt you might find you have better sleep, are less thirsty, hungry, and more satisfied when you eat. It’s also important to make sure you get enough salt anytime you exercise because your body is sweating it out. For anyone who participates in high intensity sports or competition, this can be key.
