Salt has been used for centuries to get rid of sickness and bad vibes. It has been rubbed on wounds, used in healing salt baths, put in front of doors to ward off “bad spirits”, ingested to make the body stronger, etc. The importance of salt to our ancestors is handed down in many idioms of the English language. “He is worth his salt” means he is worth the money paid, because salt was once used as currency. “She is salt of the Earth” means she is honest, hardworking and reliable – just like salt. “Take it with a grain of salt” means to use critical thinking. Salt has always had positive connotations.
It is therefore unfortunate that many modern doctors and health-experts recommend restricting salts for “health” and “healing”. Restricting salt does the exact opposite of healing, resulting in weakness and illness.
The problems of salt do not come from salt but from modern processing. Most of the salt offered in supermarkets is dry-heated at more than a thousand degrees, depriving the salt of calcium, magnesium and potassium, changing the chemical structure of the salt.
In India, Africa or Mexico there are still places where salt isn’t treated this way because they don’t invest in the huge kilns and salt processing factories required. Thus, these countries have a much lower rate of arthritis, heart-disease and other ailments that afflict “modern” countries.
Salt dug up from mines or from sea beds, left in its natural sun-dried state is healthy. Here’s a test to see if your salt is processed: Put a spoonful of salt in a glass of water and leave it there overnight. Did the salt collect at the bottom of the glass? It’s processed. Real salt dissolves! And if it dissolves in water, it also dissolves in your body. Anything that doesn’t dissolve in your body tends to disturb the functions of the body. This is why unprocessed foods are the best foods for your health.
