Life

They say shake the habit  but salt isn't all bad

We need salt in our diet as it plays a key role in transmitting nerve impulses, among other things. But much of the food we eat already contains salt  sometimes far too much. Roisin Armstrong has the low-down

A too-salty diet can also lead to health problems including high blood pressure
A too-salty diet can also lead to health problems including high blood pressure A too-salty diet can also lead to health problems including high blood pressure

THERE are many different types of salt available  the one we are most familiar with is table salt, which is finer and considered by some as more processed than other salts, although there is an argument that the iodized version may offer a small protection against thyroid issues.

Some cooks believe sea salt tastes better and has a better texture than ordinary table salt, possibly because of its coarseness. It is made by literally drying off sea water. The mineral content also affects the taste. The colours and variety of flavours are due to clays and algae found in the waters the salt is harvested from. For example, some salts from Korea and France are pinkish gray, some from India are black.

Black and red salts from Hawaii may even have powdered black lava and baked red clay added in. Some sea salt contains sulfates. It may be difficult to distinguish sea salt from other salts, such as pink Himalayan salt or rock salt.

Himalayan Salt has recently been rediscovered as one of natures purest and most complete mineral salt sources, according to its advocates. The sodium content of table salt and mineral or sea salts are the same; however, Himalayan salt also contains small amounts of a wide range of minerals and for that reason it may have a therapeutic effect. It can be used in all the same ways that you would use regular table salt.

Sodium plays a leading role in sending nerve impulses from your brain to the rest of your body. In order for the nervous system to function properly, its necessary to maintain a proper balance of sodium and potassium. However, too much sodium can disturb normal nerve functions.

Most people know that sodium can raise your blood pressure and that a too-salty diet over time can also lead to other health problems. When your diet is high in sodium, your kidneys release more water, increasing the volume of blood your heart pumps out second by second. This puts stress on your heart, as it has to work even harder to deliver fresh blood to your organs. This is one of the reasons why if you know you have a risk of heart disease you should limit your sodium intake.

Maintaining a diet with equal parts sodium and potassium can actually reduce risk for some diseases. Researchers have found that just cutting back on sodium-rich processed foods and eating a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables was usually enough to balance the mineral levels for optimum health.

Salt content of restaurant foods and processed foods like shop-bought prepared pasta sauces, for example, may contain as much as 900mg sodium in a half cup; cereals, including some targeted for children that contain 200mg to 300mg sodium per cup; instant bread and cake mixes; cottage cheese, which can have as much as 400mg per half-cup; and condiments such as ketchup, which has 190mg of sodium per tablespoon.

Salt has been used for centuries as a cleaning aid. For example, as a gargle for bad breath, add a teaspoon of the salt to water and let the crystals dissolve; use a few times a day. If you have sore and bleeding gums or any oral infection, rinse three to four times a day with a Himalayan salt and water solution.

An infected tooth can be painful and make your entire body hurt. Using Himalayan salt with water and swishing it around the sore tooth can help draw out and kill bacteria and germs. This is a short-term treatment, of course. You will still need an appointment with the dentist for a repair and to check out the source of the bad breath.

Using Himalayan salt on your bath is another great way of benefiting from the trace minerals it has. Add a handful and soak for 20 minutes; it can ease pain and is really relaxing.

Last but not least, is the use of these salt crystals as EMF protectors, Electro Magnetic Fields are all around us from mobile phones, wireless technology, electric cabling and pylons. It's claimed that Himalayan Salt lamps offer protection from this exposure by releasing negative ions. The lamps are quite cute to look at as well.

r.armstrong@irishnews.com