Salt of the earth; the building block of life and a description of a steady, earthy and trustworthy personality. Yet there has been much controversy over salt and over the recent years much has been publicised about diseases associated with it, despite the fact that we also know that some salt
in our diet is vital. There is easily available information about how much we should use on our plates as well as in cooking and through much needed press about the shockingly high amounts in many processed foods, we are becoming more aware. Some statistics state that by reducing your salt intake you can also reduce your chances of heart disease and strokes by 25%! Currently in the UK the average person ingests 8-10g of salt a day, but the World Health Organisation is recommending only 5g. At the same time we are salt starved, of the real stuff that is!
It seems that not all salt is made of the same stuff and will have a different effect on the body depending on its source. The basic common and garden table salt is Sodium Chloride (plus the additives with it). It has been chemically cleaned to create that very white uniform look and has a different result on the body from its mineral counterparts. When the body over-doses on salt it tries to neutralise its effects by pulling water from the cells and therefore upsets the body's internal balance. Eventually the cells die and the body becomes swollen and water logged which can eventually lead to serious disease (also a big factor in cellulite).
Healing Effect of Salt
A spectacular example of the use of salt for health is the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland. Described as no less magnificent than the Pyramids of Egypt, this is the only salt mine in the world that has been continuously functioning since the middle ages with its first recorded tourism in the 15th century, visitors have reached 1
million a year in the present time. It exists on nine levels and reaches a depth of 327 metres. Here lies a healing salt spa that has an incredible record of success with lung problems, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary heart disease as well as other complaints. A treatment plan is devised by doctors, nurses and a music specialist and your stay is underground in the amazing salt mines! Of course you can just come to visit the spa, detox and get rested. Remove any thoughts of cramped tunnels, it has many large chambers including a chapel and with some that have huge chandeliers that hang from the cavernous rooms.
The Pink Stuff
If salt is so good for us how do we safely get it back onto our tables and into our cooking potsc Try Himalayan pink salt. Considered by some as more than just salt but a food in itself. Interestingly it contains 84 of the 94 of the trace elements that our own bodies are made from and in the same proportion that we have in our blood. Said to help bone strength as well as having anti-inflammatory properties, not only is good for us but it tastes delicious too. These pink crystals are great in the bath and a good soak will help those aches and pains, detox the body, help heal dry flaking skin and allow it to retain more moisture as well as other benefits.
The healing continues with rock salt lamps that give a beautiful warm glow to a room whilst releasing the minerals into your room. Great for allergy suffers and one near your computer will help counter those EMF waves. If you want to know more then go to the amazinghealth.co.uk site where you can purchase a book called Water and Salt by Peter Ferreira and Dr Barbara Hendel. Meanwhile make sure you go for the pink stuff, check out food labels and leave the white poison behind.