Why I Switched to Himalayan Salt

Our bodies today are missing many of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to function properly. Salt is a vital nutrient that is used in our bodies to carry nutrients in and out of our cells, regulates a proper blood pressure, detoxes your body, normalizes muscle and nerve function, and more. Media has pushed the idea, “beware of salt, salt is bad!” However, an unrefined, unprocessed, God- made salt is good you.

The history of salt

I won’t go into ALL the details of salt but here is a brief history of salt. To all the homeschooling mamas or daddies out there, this might a topic for homeschool! Belief it or not, there is alot to know about salt!

The Egyptians use salt in their sacrificial offerings, trade, and  a means of preserving. They traded salt between the Phoenicians and the Mediterranean empire. In Greece, slaves were exchanged for salt. Back in the Roman’s time, salt was used as a form of currency. It was highly valuable and the soldiers were often paid by giving them salt. The word salary comes from the Latin word “salarium.” Salarium means payment in salt. I won’t include all the historical data regarding salt but as you can see, salt was the “white gold” to many civilizations.

Fast forward to today’s  manufactured salt. When salt was first manufactured, they realized their customers preferred a pure white salt over the natural off-white color. In order for them to get the pure white salt that we know today, they have to highly process it. The process includes bleaching, stripping the salt of all beneficial nutrients, heating it to a very high temp, and using toxic chemicals. The processed salt is missing 80 beneficial minerals and they only add one nutrient back in! All this boils down to a very toxic salt.

Not too long after they began doing this, people started developing diseases such as goiter. Goiter is caused from iodine deficiency and is easily recognized. A big lump protruding from your neck sends a big signal. Then they began adding iodine back into the the salt. Over 80+ beneficial properties and only 1 nutrient is put back in.

What does the bible say about salt

Jesus spoke about salt in the bible. Many times when Jesus would speak, he spoke in parables. Here is what he says;

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (Luke 14:34)

He says salt is good. I find this absolutely interesting. I have probably read over these verses a ton of times. I was actually looking for the following verse when I stumbled across the 2 previous verses. Now, I know this is a parable and it has a deeper meaning than salt is good but I always caught the deeper meaning without realizing Jesus said salt is good. Let’s look at the recording in Matthew.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” (Matthew 5:13)

Clearly, salt in these verses are representing the righteous. Jesus used symbols to teach those “who had ears to hear” to get his message across. Even though we know when he is talking about salt, the deeper message is the saints, but if salt was bad, he would have simply chosen another example for his parable. What is the take away? Salt is good. 

We must keep in mind, salt during the time of Jesus wasn’t manufactured. It was in its purest form just the way God made it. It had not been refined and corrupted. I know, most of you are going to be thinking, but science says salt is bad. Let’s look at the verse in 1 Timothy about science.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Timothy is warned to avoid false science. The KJV is the only one (that I’m aware of) that uses the term science. Many other versions say knowledge. Science is usually wisdom in most eyes. The archaic definition of science is; knowledge of any kind. Science is often looked to for all the answers. By looking to science, we are putting our faith in men instead of God.  We all know men are not perfect therefore neither is science. Science has been wrong time and time again so it still baffles me to why many think science holds all knowledge. Don’t get me wrong, science has brought many great inventions but only after tons of trial and error.

All knowledge comes from God. Wordly wisdom is simply foolishness with God.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (1 Corinthians 3:19)

With all that being said, science says salt is bad. I agree with them to an extent. The salt that science has refined and processed, is bad. The salt in its natural form is good.

Not all salts are created equal

Through the manufacturing process natural salt has been so heavily processed that is removes all minerals and trace minerals leaving only sodium and chloride. This is NOT only iodized salt. This is also done to those brands labeled as Sea Salt.

All salt is sea salt

All salt comes from a salted body of water. It can be from what we typically think such as the ocean or can be a salt-water lake. It is derived from water or deposits from the sea. It can also be derived from deposits that have evaporated from the oceans during periods of time. The Himalayan Salt is an example of deposits evaporated from the ocean during an earlier time. All salt is sea salt. Table salt, sea salt, Celtic salt, Himalayan salt, and whatever other kind of salt there is.

Packaging can be deceiving

The type of Sea Salt that I have on hand is one of them. It states on the packaging “100% Natural,” “made naturally from the sea and the sun,”  and ” this salt does not contain iodine, a necessary nutrient.” Clever right? I purchased the salt after hearing the uproar about how evil table salt was and how great sea salt is. The packaging is obviously targeted towards those trying to make the switch to a natural alternative but in return are basically getting the same thing with a heftier price tag. How do I know this? Simple, a natural salt would have iodine in it. How do they do this legally? Well, it is all in the advertising game. Technically, they are not lying. All salt is natural, made from the sea and the sun. Every bit of salt is comes from a salted body of water. I completed 90 credits towards a Bachelor’s in Advertising and dropped out because of moral reasons. So trust me on this. Here is another example of Advertising at it’s best. You know those Natural-Cut French Fries from some fast food joints sell? To the normal consumer, they order these natural-cut fries thinking they are a better alternative to the typical french fries. Are they? No, in fact they are no better than the regular ole fries. If you pay attention to the wording, it is natural-cut fries. That little hyphen between the natural and cut is connecting the natural to the word cut. In other words, it means they are naturally cut. Crafty right? And incredibly misleading. Now you can probably understand my decision to get out of the degree.

Check the color of your salt

So if sea salt is as bad as table salt which one do you use? You want to find a salt that is unrefined, unprocessed salt. One way to tell is to go for a salt that is not a pure white. Salts come in a different colors from an off white, sandy color, black, and pink. Rice is kind of the same case. Your brown rice is healthy while your white rice (highly processed, with nutrients stripped and then added back) is not good for you. But like other products, you might want to research the brand you choose to make sure they are not giving you a fake. I just purchased the 5lb bag of San Francisco Salt Company Co Himalayan Salt and I am splitting it with my sister. I’m still checking out the validity of this salt as well as other Himalayan Salts.

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Himalayan Salt

The Himalayan Salt is a variety of different colors of pink. This pink color denotes the 84 minerals and trace minerals that present in the salt.

Himalayan Salt is mined from (you guessed it) the Himalayan mountains. It is said to be one of the purest forms of sea salt, untouched and unpolluted. This salt is said to be deposited in the mountains before the oceans were polluted with PCBs, pesticides, and other pollutants.

You can make “sole” (a health drink), put it in your baths, and use it to season your food. There are also salt lamps that can purify your air. Depending on the purpose you plan on using it will depend on which coarseness you will want. I personally prefer the taste of the Himalayan Salt. I use salt very sparingly and never thought I would be writing about any kind of salt.

Benefits of Himalayan Salt

• 84  minerals and trace minerals
• unrefined
• unlike refined salt, Himalayan salt can actually lower blood pressure
• promotes ph balance in cells
• promotes sleep
• supports libido
• supports metabolism
• prevents muscle cramps
• promotes sinus health
• promotes vascular health
• promotes healthy blood sugar level
• balances your electrolytes
• reduce acid re flux
• helps the intestines absorb nutrients
• overall health
• naturally balances hormones
• Tastes better (my opinion)
• some studies suggest natural salt can reduce cellulite

For me, I see no reason not to switch to Himalayan salt. The health benefits are substantial. During my research, I read that by switching to Himalayan salt your cravings for salty foods will decrease, since your body is craving the necessary nutrients that are in salt but are missing from the salt you are ingesting. I am one that tends to crave salty junk food so we will see if this is true or not.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Will you be switching to Himalayan salt? Why or Why not?