Why we need Salt

Some Facts on Salt

Compiled by, Nelson Brunton

Reducing your salt consumption produces no health benefit -- and isn’t worth the effort.

The Medical Profession erroneously came to the conclusion that salt is bad for your health as it raises you BP. Here is an abstract from a Medical University

Salt puts up our blood pressure.Raised blood pressure (hypertension) is the major factor which causes strokes, heart failure and heart attacks, the leading causes of death and disability in the UK. There is also increasing evidence of a link between high salt intake and stomach cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, kidney stones, kidney disease and vascular dementia and water retention. Salt can also exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, Ménière's disease and diabetes.

You keep hearing through the media how harmful salt is. This is the arrogance of Science, and I ask the question, if science was that scientific, then why do they constantly keep moving the goal post?

They don't define their Salts, rather put all salts in the same bracket.

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. Depending on the water source, this leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements.

Table salt is typically mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping (Anti-caking Agents).

Rock Salt: Halite /ˈhælaɪt/, commonly known as rock salt, is the mineral form of sodium chloride (NaCl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on the amount and type of impurities. It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates.

Mineral Salts: Our body needs minerals to stay healthy. They are a vital component of every living cell. They help in regular functioning of the body and are closely related to each other. It was the biochemist Dr Schussler who recognised the importance of mineral salts to our health. He classified 12 essential mineral salts and used them to treat the sick. Thus originated a new system of healing called the biochemic method and the miracle minerals were called biochemic salts or the 12 tissue remedies.

According to Louix Dor Dempriey

Refined Salt How is salt refined? Most commercial refined salt has been harvested mechanically from various salt mines as brine. Brine is a highly concentrated solution of water and salt. Prior to mechanical evaporation, the brine is often treated with chemicals to remove minerals (which are sold for use in industry). The minerals are referred to as “impurities” in salt. These chemicals used to treat refined salt can include sulfuric acid or chlorine. Next, water is evaporated under high compression and heat which disrupts the molecular structure of salt. Finally, almost all of the moisture in the salt is removed in a fluidized-bed dryer.

Contents of Refined Iodized Salt

Sodium	≈39%
Chloride	≈60%
Ferrocyanide, Aluminum Silicate, Ammonium Citrate, Dextrose	Up to 2%
Iodide	.01%

Unrefined Salt

As contrasted with refined salt, unrefined salt contains much more than sodium and chloride. Unrefined salt contains all of the elements necessary for life. Celtic Sea Salt (Light Grey) contains 33% sodium, 50.9% chloride, 1.8% minerals and trace elements and 14.3 % moisture. Table 2 shows the major contents of unrefined Celtic Sea Salt. Unrefined salt does not contain appreciable amounts of iodide.

Major Contents of Unrefined Celtic Sea Salt

Element	Mg/1/4 tsp	%	Element	Mg/1/4 tsp	%
Chloride	601.25	50.9	Zinc	0.03	.00275
Sodium	460	33.00	Copper	0.02	.00195
Sulfur	9.7	0.820	Erbium	0.02	.00195
Magnesium	5.2	0.441	Tin	0.02	.00192
Potassium	2.7	0.227	Manganese	0.02	.0018
Calcium	1.5	0.128	Cerium	0.02	.00172
Silicon	1.2	0.052	Fluoride	0.01	.00109
Carbon	0.6	0.049	Rubidium	0.01	.00084
Iron	0.14	0.012	Gallium	0.01	.00083
Aluminum	0.11	0.0095	Boron	0.01	.00082
Praseodymium	0.04	0.0029	Titanium	0.01	.00079
Strontium	0.03	0.00275	Bromine	0.01	.00071

Unrefined Redmond’s Salt

Element	%	Element	%
Chloride	59.1	Iodine	0.0009
Sodium	37.6	Manganese	0.0008
Calcium	0.418	Cesium	0.0007
Potassium	0.198	Erbium	0.00006
Rubidium	0.120	Phosphorus	0.00049
Sulfur	0.160	Titanium	0.00048
Magnesium	0.0937	Antimony	0.00042
Iron	0.0472	Cerium	0.00040
Silicon	0.0138	Zirconium	0.000389
Aluminum	0.0068	Barium	0.000291
Carbon	0.0060	Boron	0.000205
Silver	0.0030	Gadolinium	0.000199
Copper	0.0028	Samarium	0.000198
Bromine	0.0022	Strontium	0.000193
Fluoride	0.0013	Thallium	0.000133

According to  Johnathon Andrew, Demand Media on Iodine in salt.

Iodine is considered a mineral and it’s found in unrefined sea salt, but iodized table salt contains considerably more of it. The Salt Institute states, “Although often promoted as a more healthful alternative to refined table salt, natural sea salt has little iodine and is a poor choice for those concerned about ensuring their iodine sufficiency.” A lack of dietary iodine leads to thyroid gland dysfunction and goiter, or inflammation of the thyroid. Goiter was much more common in the United States many decades ago until government initiatives forced manufacturers to iodize their salt.

They further go on to inform us on the Mineral Removed from Salt

The main reasons why minerals and other elements are removed from table salt include increased purity, extended shelf life, cleaner, whiter look and less clumping due to moister accumulation. The overall mineral content in sea salt, aside from sodium and chloride, is relatively low and shouldn’t be relied on as a significant dietary source. If you want to increase your intake of minerals, eat foods such as fish, dairy products, leafy greens and legumes or consider taking a multi-mineral supplement.

According to Dr Brownstein: the right kind of salt to your diet can help:

*Fatigue: Low thyroid levels are very common these days. Many symptoms of which are similar to those presented by the 'Fatigue Illnesses'. Dr Brownstein, who has researched the benefits of Iodine considers hypothyroidism to be common in Fibromyalgia patients (bear in mind that most M.E patients have accompanying Fibromyalgia). He proposes that as many as 80% FM sufferers have this low thyroid level condition.

• Adrenal Disorders: In regards to which affliction is more common, we have no real statistics. Dr Michael Lam, a US-based physician familiar with adrenal fatigue, haws stated that 80% of the population will suffer with adrenal fatigue at some point in their life. Dr David Brownstein, the author of “Iodine: Why You Need It”, estimates that 40% of the Western world is currently experiencing some sort of thyroid imbalance. In any case, it can be safely concluded that there are many individuals are needlessly suffering, searching for answers after being knocked back by their GP.
  When the adrenals increase hormonal secretion, thyroid function is inhibited. This affect appears to be dominated by adrenaline, which increases the levels of reverse T3 in the bloodstream. Reverse T3 is inactive cousin of the primary thyroid hormone T3; because both competitively inhibit one another at binding sides, a high count of reverse T3 can cause the onset of thyroid symptoms. However, this will often be masked by excessive adrenal output of both adrenaline and cortisol but will be brutally unveiled if and when the adrenal function crashes, as is known to occur in adrenal fatigue. This is an example of how stress can induce hypothyroid symptoms. Not only does it demonstrate the need to always check for reverse T3 in all thyroid tests, it also shows why a shift from high adrenal output to low – typical in adrenal fatigue – can cause such a severe crash; the low thyroid function, which was previously masked, now becomes fully evident at the same time as the individual is gripped by adrenal fatigue.
  
  
• Immune System Function: Table Salt – Poison Salt

Let’s consider the qualities of commercially available table salt. It is obvious in the above Brazilian study that no attention was paid to the dangerous and damaging effects that the salt itself might be having on the population. It is possible that the salt, not the iodine, led to increases in the prevalence of CAT and hypothyroidism in subjects genetically predisposed to thyroid autoimmune diseases. After all, refined salt is highly-processed—bleached, filtered, and stripped of other naturally occurring trace minerals. After this processing, chemicals are added to keep the salt from absorbing water and clumping up, and it is often iodized.

Dr. David Brownstein weighs in heavily on this matter saying, “Nobody makes a distinction between unrefined and refined salt. They ‘lump’ all salt together as a bad substance. This is a terrible mistake. There are two forms of salt available in the market place: refined and unrefined. Refined salt has had its minerals removed and has been bleached to give it the white appearance that we are accustomed to seeing with salt. It is the fine, white salt that is available at almost any restaurant or grocery store. Refined salt has been bleached and exposed to many toxic chemicals in order to get it to its final product. It has aluminum, ferrocyanide, and bleach in it. I believe this refining process has made it a toxic, devitalized substance that needs to be avoided.”

• Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid hormone is composed of three or four atoms of iodine and one molecule of the amino acid tyrosine.

There are three forms or chemical structures of iodine. There is iodine in its atomic I¹ form and then molecular I² and I³ forms. One of the principle reasons why I recommend Nascent Iodine for oral consumption and the use of Lugol’s only for transdermal use is that the Nascent Iodine is in the I¹ form plus it is much gentler to the taste buds and the stomach than the Lugol’s when used orally. The I¹ form is the form the body transforms most easily into thyroid hormone. There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet regarding the application of iodine in those with Hashimoto’s. Dosage and form of iodine and a full supporting protocol as well as close medical supervision are especially important in these cases.

• Headaches: Nowadays we hear so much about how bad salt is for you, we rarely get to hear how essential minerals from salt are for good health. There are many magazine articles, television programmes, online health advice websites etc, and most of them will be advising us to cut down on our salt intake. One common problem with having low salt levels in the body is the tendency to suffer from headaches. Headaches can be caused by many things, such as lack of hydration in the diet, or too much alcohol. But if you suffer from headaches, and you’re not quite sure what is causing them, it may be worth checking if you can relieve your symptoms by having some unprocessed sea salt.
• Cholesterol Levels: For decades, experts have been recommending that Americans cut down on their salt consumption to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. According to a new study, however, while reducing dietary salt does lower blood pressure, it may also lead to a slight boost in cholesterol, a separate risk factor for heart disease.

Danish researchers report in the American Journal of Hypertension that reducing sodium consumption led to a 1% drop in blood pressure in people who had normal pressure readings, and a 3.5% drop in those with hypertension. But other changes may offset those benefits: people who cut dietary salt also saw a 2.5% increase in cholesterol levels and a 7% boost in triglycerides. Like high blood pressure, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are risk factors for heart disease. Excessive triglycerides can also contribute to diabetes.

• Blood Pressure: Dr Brownstein, Hypertension and Salt

Early in my medical career, I accepted the “low salt = lowered blood pressure” hypothesis unquestionably. My medical training was clear: A low-salt diet was good and a high-salt diet was bad. In all hypertensive cases, I was taught to promote a low-salt diet. In fact, I was taught that in order to prevent people from becoming hypertensive, it was better to encourage them to adopt a life-long dietary plan of low-salt. However, my experience with promoting a low-salt diet to treat hypertension was not successful. Not only did I find a low-salt diet relatively ineffective at lowering blood pressure, but I also found a low-salt diet made my patients miserable due to the poor taste of their low-salt food.

It wasn’t until I began to look at my patients in a more holistic manner that I began to research the medical literature about salt. What I found was astounding; there is little data to support low-salt diets being effective at treating hypertension for the vast majority of people. Also, none of the studies looked at the use of unrefined sea salt, which contains many valuable vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which are vital to maintaining normal blood pressure.

• The Relationship Between Salt Deficiency and Hormonal Imbalances
• Balance and Replenish Minerals: In fact, life itself is not possible without adequate amounts of sodium and chloride. Low intake of salt will lead to deficiency, and salt deficiency is a dangerous condition for the body as it triggers a cascade of hormonal responses.

 

If a shortage of salt occurs, aldosterone, a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands, causes the kidneys to retain more sodium, thereby raising blood pressure. Angiotensin, another adrenal hormone, also aids in this process of increasing sodium retention when the body senses a deficiency. 

Some other uses of Salt:

Salt has many other functions than just regulating the water content of the body. Here are some of the more vital functions of salt in the body:

Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.

Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.

Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; a needed element in diabetics.

Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of energy needed by the cells.

Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and information processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment of conception to death.

Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract.

Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the sinuses.

Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.

Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.

Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the point that it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop up excess saliva indicates salt shortage.

Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water shortage in the body.

Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural hypnotic.

Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of diabetics.

Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.

Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis.

Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.

Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.

Salt is vital for reducing a double chin. When the body is short of salt, it means the body really is short of water. The salivary glands sense the salt shortage and are obliged to produce more saliva to lubricate the act of chewing and swallowing and also to supply the stomach with water that it needs for breaking down foods. Circulation to the salivary glands increases and the blood vessels become "leaky" in order to supply the glands with water to manufacture saliva. The "leakiness" spills beyond the area of the glands themselves, causing increased bulk under the skin of the chin, the cheeks and into the neck.

Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.