Sea salt is a salt naturally occurring in the ocean. It's often used as an ingredient in cooking, foods, beauty products, and preserving foods. It's also sometimes called "natural stone salt," solar salt, or "table salt." Sea salt's composition consists of calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfates.
Like most minerals, table salt was discovered by man in the form of mineral deposits that were found in fossilized corals found in the oceans. As time passed, more deposits were discovered, making it possible for a man to collect the essential mineral elements that he needed in order to build civilization. The mineral deposits allowed man to discover other minerals like tin, copper, iron, potassium, and zinc. It was these minerals, combined with sea salt, that enabled man to develop civilizations.
Since the early days of man, natural salt has remained unchanged. Natural sea salt is always white in color. Modern-day sea salt can contain some traces of iron, which may be beneficial to our health. In fact, iron supplements have been recommended by some doctors for certain types of diseases including high blood pressure. Some people are allergic to sea salt and thus require that their sea salt contain only the minimum amount of iron they're allergic to.
Sea salt can have harmful effects on our health. The harmful effects of sea salt include:
o It causes high levels of cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol levels can cause problems like heart attacks and strokes.
o Salt inhibits the absorption of calcium. Calcium absorption is important for healthy bones. Calcium helps your body absorb nutrients and minerals from the food you eat. When calcium is not absorbed, you will tend to lose weight, become weak, and experience fatigue.
o Salt slows down the metabolism. Metabolism is a vital part of the body's natural defense system. As your body becomes accustomed to the salt in the saltiness of salt, it becomes less effective in fighting the disease, thus resulting in illness.
o Salt contains sodium chloride, an element that has the ability to reduce the effectiveness of our immune system in combating disease.
o Salt inhibits the production of natural hormones and enzymes in the body. This affects the normal functioning of the body and may result in fatigue, depression, and other illnesses. Some researchers believe that this effect may even lead to the development of cancers such as cancer.
o Salt affects health in many different ways. It is said that it can reduce the effectiveness of our immune system, lower blood sugar levels, inhibit the production of bile acids, cause water retention in the body, and stimulate the secretion of insulin. These effects lead to higher blood pressure and make it easier for cancer cells to survive.
o Salt also affects digestion. Studies show that it speeds up the digestive process by allowing the stomach acid and gastric juices to reach the intestines. Some studies suggest that it reduces the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Because of these effects, people who consume too much salt suffer from bloating and cramps.
o It affects blood sugar levels in several ways. It can cause low or high blood sugar. High blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, can cause diabetes. Low blood sugar can lead to increased fat levels in the bloodstream.
Salt also makes it harder to digest proteins. It can also cause the kidneys to excrete more fluid than normal. High levels of fluid in the blood mean that proteins will have to be broken down into smaller molecules.
The most obvious effect of consuming salty foods is a rise in blood pressure. Other effects include inflammation and swelling. Severe cases of arthritis often occur when the body becomes accustomed to the salt in your diet.
There are some studies that indicate that salt can have some effect on the brain. Some studies indicate that when it becomes a habit, we become less likely to experience certain neurological problems.
One way to minimize the bad side effects of salt is to avoid salt in any form. If you do eat salty foods, simply substitute a substitute with a product with an equal amount of minerals.
