Health & Beauty: Salt, Anyone?

The Newsy Neighbour
September Issue 107
www.thenewsyneighbour.com

Salt has been used for thousands of years; not only as a condiment, but also to preserve foods. Nowadays, we take it for granted as the cheapest condiment, but salt was once considered so valuable it was used for currency!

New studies have health professionals debating over previous theories that claim salt is bad for the heart. Of course, as with most things, the adage "all things in moderation" rings true. It is an established fact that salt is essential to the body, performing the function of turning carbohydrates to fat, ridding the body of carbon dioxide and is necessary for heart and muscle contractions. Salt is necessary for the body to produce digestive acids, stimulate the liver and helps get rid of gas.

There are so many different types of salt appearing on the shelves, I wondered to myself if sea salt is better for you than the conventional table salt, so I did some research. Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater, usually with little processing, which leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements depending on its water source. Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping. By weight, sea salt and table salt contain the same amount of sodium chloride. Your body needs only a very tiny amount of salt to stay healthy. Most people get far too much — mostly from processed foods. So regardless of which type of salt you prefer, use a light hand with the saltshaker.

Dr. David Brownstein, author of Salt Your Way to Health, advocates using pure, unrefined salt. He is keen on restoring iodine levels in our thyroids for better overall endocrine health. Besides containing iodine, pure sea salt is a factor for better iodine absorption from other sources. Sea salt also contains potassium, which is vital for regulating pH balance along with sodium and chloride. Yes, untainted sodium chloride is vital for health. Chloride also contributes to creating digestive acids. Pure salt contains magnesium, the master mineral that is involved with over 300 cellular metabolic actions. Sulfur and other nutrients are in sea salt as well. It makes sense to me that unprocessed sea salt would contain minerals that table salt would not have and I find it tastes better; less salty, if that makes any sense. Try both and decide for yourself; but I would personally say perhaps the sea salt may be better for you. And to add a little spice (hehe) to your life, I have included a recipe to make your own seasoning salt. This is a basic recipe and really you could put your own spin on this by adding your own favourite herbs and spices; use your imagination and have a spicy time!

Homemade Seasoning salt
Ingredients:

6 tablespoons salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon marjoram

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt or garlic powder

2 1/4 teaspoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon dill weed

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Preparation:

Put all ingredients into a mini food processor or small blender container and blend on low.

By: Kathryn Hartwell

The word "salary" was derived from the Latin term "salarium," which was the name for a soldier's pay in the army of ancient Rome. The pay included a large ration of salt, which was a spice of high value and also a medium for exchange; thus the origin of such expressions as "salt of the earth" and "worth your salt."