Data also showed that those in the 30- 49-year-old age group consumed the most salt, averaging at about 9g daily. Males have been found to consume more salt as well, about 10g a day, compared to females who consume about 7g a day.
Salt is used in our daily life for flavour – enhancing and food preservatives. It comprises 3 elements – chloride, minerals and sodium which are all needed by the body to function properly.
* Chloride – Chloride is needed for the body’s digestive juices and to maintain fluid balance. It is an electrolyte controlled by the kidneys and can at times be affected by our diet. Basically it maintains acid-base balance and helps to regulate blood volume and artery pressure. Elevated levels are related to acidosis and excess fluids crossing the cell membrane. Too much or too little are caused by kidney malfunctioning.
* Minerals – The minerals present in table salt is minute due to heavy processing whilst sea salt has slightly high magnesium and calcium content. Salt substitutes tend to contain high potassium and low sodium, which can be a burden to the kidneys in removing the excessive potassium, especially for renal failure patients.
* Sodium – Sodium helps to regulate the water balance and pH. It is also needed for proper muscle and nerve functions.
Dangers of High Sodium intake -
A high level can be caused by too much water intake of salt or not taking in enough water.
Symptoms: Edema, hypertension, potassium deficiency, liver and kidney disease, premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
* Sodium helps to retain water in the body. Hence, when one takes in more sodium, the total body water content also rises. With a corresponding rise of blood volume (as present in the water), it puts pressure on the blood vessels, causing damage to the lining. Once the structure weakens, hormones and other molecules are thrown out of balance and promotes inflammation. Passing cholesterols take the opportunity to form plaque or fatty deposits leading to heart attacks and stroke.
* High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys too. If excess sodium is taken over prolonged period, it can cause more calcium to be excreted in the urine which can then bind to other substances to form kidney stones.
A proper balance of potassium and sodium needs to be achieved for maintaining good health. By consuming too much sodium, the intake of potassium must increase correspondingly. This can be found abundantly in apricots, avocados, bananas, brown rice, dates, garlic, nuts, potatoes. Note that low potassium level can cause muscle weakness and heart problem.
Ways to reduce sodium intake -
+ Cut down foods laden with sodium like smoked, cured or salted foods. Avoid snacks high in salt content. Skip the gravy or stocks when eating out.
+ Go for fresh foods and to cook use natural flavours like fruits, herbs and spices to substitute salt. If need salt alternative, kosher and sea salt can be used sparingly.
Danger of Low Sodium Intake
A low level in the blood can be caused by excessive water intake, heart failure or kidney failure. Patients who take diuretics for high blood pressure and controlling sodium intake at the same time are more at risk.
Most people suffer one time or another from loss of sodium due to diarrhoea, fluid or vomiting.
Symptoms: abdominal cramps, anorexia, confusion, dehydration, depression, dizziness, fatigue, hallucinations, headache, heart palpitations, an impaired sense of taste, lethargy, low blood pressure, memory impairment, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting, poor coordination, seizure and weight loss.
Source: Mind Your Body, Jul 8,2010; Prescription to Natural Healing
Switch to sea salt
Rock or sea salt is a preferred choice over table or iodised salt. Why?
The table salt does NOT melt easily in the body, thus ending in the kidneys to develop into kidney stones, and raises blood pressure. However, it is the salt favored by the synthetic drug-based doctors who say it is very clean and sanitary, pointing to how white it is and how it glistens like diamonds.
On the other hand, the rock salt, which comes from the sea and dried under the sun has 72 natural minerals including natural sodium, chloride and iodine. It melts in water and our body, and does not give rise to kidney stones, other than bringing down blood pressure and stops/prevents muscle cramps, numbness, tingling etc. Try treating hypertension with this natural remedy.
WONDERS OF SALT
Do not throw away your table salt after reading this post. It has multi-uses other than simply seasoning your food you probably are not aware:
ON FABRICS
- Add some salt to soak stained clothes or new fabric to hold colors well. Mix it with turpentine to whiten your bathtub and toilet bowl.
- Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
- Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
- To remove wine stains on fabric, cover with salt and rinse in cool water later. For grease stains, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
ON PLANTS
- Add a little salt to the water with your cut flowers for a longer life.
- Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn. To remove mildew, combine it with lemon juice.
- Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you do not want grass growing.
ON INSECTS
- Sprinkle salt on your shelves to chase ants away.
ON EGGS
- If you drop a whole egg on the floor, pour salt all over the egg and let it sit for awhile. Use a dustpan to sweep it up and notice there is no mess.
- Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water – fresh eggs sink whilst bad ones float.
- Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs. Salty water boils faster and cracked egg remains in its shell this way.
- A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
ON FOODS
- Soak fish in salt water before de-scaling and see how rapid the scales come off.
- Put a few grains of rice in your saltshaker for easier pouring.
- Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
- Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight to see the shells cracking out in whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
- Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up. Soaking in mildly salted water after peeling to see the color stays.
- Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
- Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
- Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
- A dash of salt improves the taste of tea or coffee, warm milk and flavor of cocoa.
- Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
ON KITCHEN ITEMS
- Rub salt on your pancake griddle to prevent the flapjacks from sticking.
- Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
- Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
- Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
- Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.
- Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
- Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
- Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt. For enamel pans - soak in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
- Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
- Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
- Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.
ON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
- Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
- Spot an ink spot on your carpet? Pour a mound of salt to soak up the stain.
- To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make stiff putty.
- Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look.
- Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
ON PERSONAL HYGIENE
- Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
- Soak toothbrushes in salt water before the first use them for longer usage.
- Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
- Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
- Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher
No wonder in ancient times, salt is so precious when resources are limited then. Is cheap and multifunctional.
Lastly, above uses are for real. Do not take it with a pinch of salt!
No comments:
Post a Comment
This is a blog created to provide and share information for the benefits of everyone into physical and spiritual health. Some information are extracted from unknown sources or the internet superhighways and edited for public viewing. If you happened to be the source provider and do not like such display, please write in and I will remove the materials as soon as possible. As I reiterate this is a free sharing blog, it is only meaningful if all engaging parties have access to the information presented in the most unbiased manner. Thus, please be more accomodating and participative if you wish. Sure you have more to gain than lose. Happy reading!
Administrator
Leonard