When Salt is a ‘Good’ Thing

Salt is such a contentious topic to raise. Dare I say that salt can be healthy?

I’m certainly not suggesting to start (or continue) adding a sprinkle of salt to every meal. I would, however, like to propose an alternative to table salt and a lovely relaxing ritual to enjoy each month.

Firstly, if there’s one thing you can do to improve your health and beauty, ditch the table salt. Table salt, commercial salt, refined iodised salt or whatever else you like to call it has very little in common with natural salt (eg: Himalayan salt or sea salt). The big difference is to do with the processing and nutritive value.

Table salt
Table salt is obtained from mines, heat-blasted up to 650°C and chemically treated. Due to this process, table salt is stripped of all minerals other than sodium and chloride, and then a clumping additive and iodine are added. The result is an unnatural form of salt that your body recognises as something completely foreign.

This form of salt is also present in the majority of processed food products that you eat. I strongly suggest that you vow never again to have table salt in your home, and make a deliberate and determined effort to reduce the amount of processed foods you consume.

Himalayan and sea salt
Himalayan salt is mined from the Himalayan mountains. Sea salt is obtained by evaporating water taken from the ocean. Both are considered more beneficial for your health compared to table salt, due to the lack of refining and presence of more than 80 nutritive substances such as iron, sulfur and magnesium.

Himalayan salt enthusiasts take it one step further stating the supremacy of Himalayan crystal salt in respect to the energy content, in the form of minerals, being balanced and therefore easily metabolised by the body, and thus having a positive energetic effect on the body.

Whether or not the energetic effect is true or not, I am all for making the healthiest choice available and have been enjoying a teeny tiny little sprinkle of Himalayan salt in my home cooking for a while now.

And now, onto the pampering part.

Full-moon Himalayan salt bath
Bathing in a Himalayan salt bath has many benefits:
relaxing;
soothing;
detoxifying;
promotes smooth skin; and
has healing effects on tired muscles and joints, wounds, skin irritations and insect bites.

Bathing during a full moon will help your body to absorb the most minerals as this is when your body’s absorption potential is at its peak.

1. Fill the bath with warm (but not hot) water, ideally at the same or slightly above body temperature.
2. Add 500g to 1kg of Himalayan salt crystals.
3. Relax in the bath for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Lightly pat your skin dry and go to bed. Do not use soap or rinse off the water.

As an alternative, the body’s capacity for detoxifying is at its peak during a new moon, and therefore is the optimal time to enjoy a cleansing bath.

Please note: If you suffer from a kidney condition (ie, they are not functioning properly) or have high blood pressure then it is strongly recommended you reduce your salt intake. When in doubt, always consult your healthcare professional.

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