Salt is often seen as a no-no among modern medical professionals, but did you know that salt is actually good for you and can improve your health? However, to get all of the nutritional benefits of salt, you’ll need to consume the right type and the right amount. In this guide, we’ll share which kinds of salt provide the most benefits and explain where you can find them.
Salt and Your Health
There’s a common belief that salt is bad for your health, but that’s an oversimplification of the truth. Let’s look at where that misconception comes from.
When people talk about the “negative” side effects of salt, they’re typically referring to table salt. Before it reaches your kitchen table, this type of salt is heavily processed, stripped of much of its mineral content, and often combined with additives like anti-caking agents, iodine, and fluoride. In the end, only two minerals remain: sodium and chloride.
On the one hand, sodium chloride is vital to many bodily functions, including helping maintain fluid levels, turn nutrients into energy, and control blood pressure. However, the higher concentration and overconsumption of sodium chloride without sufficient minerals can increase your risk of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), which is a major factor in heart disease, a leading cause of death worldwide.
If you’re trying to get the benefits of salt for health, you'll want to stay away from refined table salt and use a natural variety that is free from contaminants such as microplastics.
The Best Type of Salt for Health
Bamboo salt is considered the healthiest, highest-quality salt in the world. That’s because bamboo salt is toxin-free and rich in minerals. In fact, bamboo salt contains 70+ bioactive minerals that are beneficial to your health, including:
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Iron
- Sulfur
- Phosphorus
Bamboo salt soaks up these minerals during its preparation process, which involves placing hand-harvested sea salt in bamboo pillars and sealing them with clay. Afterward, the pillar is put inside an iron kiln and roasted over a scorching hot fire up to nine times.
Health Benefits of Bamboo Salt
With its mineral-rich makeup and toxin-free nature, bamboo salt offers numerous health benefits, such as:
- Alkalizing food and the body
- Serving as an antioxidant and eliminating free radicals to fight diseases like diabetes and hypertension
- Restoring electrolyte balance
- Increasing the nutritive benefits of food
- Eliminating viruses and bacteria for improved immunity
- Fighting various types of cancer
- Removing toxins from the body