When it comes to lowering your blood pressure, all you hear is salt, salt, salt...
The Heart Association, many doctors, and the various public health nannies portray "sodium" as the enemy of heart health – something to be feared and avoided. Too much salt causes high blood pressure, they say, and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
It probably won't surprise you to learn that the subject is more nuanced. In fact, the mainstream advice about salt might not just be wrong... it could be "dead" wrong!
A few years ago, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study which examined the relationship between a person's salt intake and their risk of fatal heart disease.
The researchers discovered that people who consumed less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day had a 27% higher risk of death by heart attack or stroke than those who consumed between 3,000 and 6,000 mg per day (the average American consumes 3,400 daily).
In other words...
The "heart-healthy" recommendations given by government health organizations and the American Heart Association could potentially INCREASE your risk of fatal heart disease!
Truth is, your body NEEDS sodium to function properly. This vital substance helps carry nutrients into cells. It transmits nerve impulses, influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles, impacts hormones, helps regulate blood pressure and volume, and much more.
So if sodium is essential for body function, why does "salt" get such a bad rap?
STAY AWAY from plain old refined table salt. And AVOID most processed foods. Many processed foods contain huge amounts of sodium (with very low amounts of synergistic minerals like magnesium and potassium that help balance its effects).
Your body actually needs salt. But most research (especially what's been published in America) has revolved around refined table salt. And the results have shown that this stuff is not good for you.
In many parts of the world, it is well-accepted that salt itself is not the problem... it is the kind of salt we consume that is causing problems.
Refined table salt is pretty scary, actually.
First, the producers of commercial "table salt" remove all the beneficial trace minerals. These critical minerals that your body needs are sold off to industry - so that all that is left is sodium chloride.
Then the producers add bleaching agents and anti-caking agents, some of which have been linked to heavy metal toxicity and kidney problems. In fact, a common preservative in refined salt (sodium acetate) is connected to elevated blood pressure and kidney disturbances.
So what should you use instead?
Your best bet is to consume an unrefined, primordial salt. This kind of salt is actually good for you. It contains a wide array of beneficial minerals and micronutrients and can help balance your blood sugar, keep your bones strong, regulate your metabolism, boost your immune system and more!
In fact, the primordial salt we recommend contains over 80 trace minerals (that's why it has a faint grayish color). And it comes from rainwater percolated through an ancient dry salt lagoon, dissolving minerals along the way.
And this is super important, because MANY "sea salt" products are made by simply taking seawater and pumping it onto salt beds to evaporate in the sun. This pulls any contaminants in the seawater and actually concentrates them.
That's why a recent study showed that 92% of salts tested showed positive results for microplastics!
Thankfully, Colima Sea Salt (which is not sold in stores) is a high-quality, unrefined salt that is loaded with minerals and nutrients you need (and it was tested and proven free of microplastics).
You already know it pays to consider where your food comes from and how it is sourced and produced... and yes, unfortunately in today's world, that even means the salt you sprinkle.
On a culinary note, I LOVE the way this salt comes in big, crunchy nuggets that add a satisfying textural element to food.
Enjoy some for yourself...
