Salt: Vital Functions

Salt: Vital Functions of Natural Unrefined Sea Salt (NUSS) / Rock Salt (Sindhav Namak) in the Body

by Swami Avadhutananda- Ex Acharya, Chinmaya Mission-Sikkim Centre

Although it is generally advised to have zero salt or low salt diet, salt is essential for many of the vital functions of the body. Excessive salt in diet is no doubt harmful for health, but no salt or very low salt diet is also equally harmful. There should be regulated use of salt according to one’s health and lifestyle. Refined salt is a harmful chemical and therefore should be avoided. Although several varieties and brands of salts are available in the market, one should use only natural unrefined sea salt or rock salt and no other variety.



1) Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, Contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure—in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.



2) Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.



3) Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood, a needed element in diabetics.



4) Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of energy need by the cells.



5) Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and information processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment of conception to death.



6) Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract.



7) Salt is critical for the maintenance of osmotic balance.



8) Salt is essential for maintaining homeostasis in the body.



9) Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.



10) Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the sinuses.



11) Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.



12) Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the point that it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop up excess saliva indicates salt shortage.



13) Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water shortage in the body. At the same time excessive intake of salt results in osteoporosis and bone mineral loss with age.



14) Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural hypnotic.



15) Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of diabetics.



16) Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.



17) Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis.



18) Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.



19) Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.



20) Salt is vital to the communication and information processing nerve cells the entire time that the brain cells work—from the moment of conception to death.



21) Salt is vital for reducing a double chin. When the body is short of salt, it means the body really is short of water. The salivary glands sense the salt shortage and are obliged to produce more saliva to lubricate the act of chewing and swallowing and also to supply the stomach with water that it needs for breaking down foods. Circulation to the salivary glands increases and the blood vessels become "leaky" in order to supply the glands with water to manufacture saliva. The "leakiness" spills beyond the area of the glands themselves, causing increased bulk under the skin of the chin, the cheeks and into the neck.



22) Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Natural unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it dry and easily pourable. According to latest research aluminium is found to be a very toxic element for our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer’s disease.



23) Twenty-seven percent of the body's salt is in the bones. Osteoporosis results when the body needs more salt and takes it from the bones. Bones are twenty-two percent water. It is obvious what happens to the bones when we're deficient in salt or water or both.



In the theory of acid and alkaline balance, chronic disease such as cancer is caused by the acidification of the blood, lymph and all cellular tissues. Natural unrefined sea salt is one of the basic elements necessary to correct this problem.



Natural unrefined sea salt is slightly gray with minerals and feels damp or clumps in humidity. It contains 92 essential minerals and most of refined adulterated sea salts contain only 2 elements—sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Biologically, 24 of these elements in real sea salt have already been proven necessary and essential to maintain and recover health. The salinity of the water outside the cells in our bodies is the same as the ocean. See Scientific American, July 1972: "The Chemical Elements of Life," by Earl Friden.



People who eat refined salt develop craving for salt, because, salt that they eat is not satisfying their needs. Than they use more and more salt, in the desperate try to get what they need. Taking big amounts of refined salt (chemical) burden kidneys and adrenal glands that are very important for calcium utilization. Modern physiology has demonstrated that an excess of salt interferes with the absorption of nutrients and depletes calcium, while if used in moderate doses, salt enhances calcium absorption and nutrient utilization in general.



It is known that absorption of calcium depends on the health of the kidney-adrenal function and that calcium metabolism is of essential importance for the health of the nerves, muscles, heart, vascular system, and bones. Simply, the whole body is dependant on Calcium uptake.



Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Shantanu Deshpande says, “The normal requirement of salt is just 500mg per day. Normally excessive salt is excreted in the urine. But in almost 50% of individuals, the kidneys are not able to handle the excess sodium. Excess salt in the blood stream retains more water resulting in a rise in blood volume and blood pressure. It also results in hypertrophy of heart and blood vessel musculature resulting in permanent rise in blood pressure. These effects are more pronounced in the elderly and diabetics. Reducing salt intake in the diet reduces blood pressure. A low salt diet containing less than 5 gms of salt per day is recommended for high blood pressure patients who should avoid foods like pickles, cheese, processed food, and junk food.”



Senior Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Rajiv Bhagwat says, “Increase the intake of potassium, which is found in plenty in fruits, legumes, nuts and vegetables. Their intake is an effective means to reduce blood pressure.”



“Unless one is specifically advised by a qualified specialist about limiting or stopping one's (natural unrefined sea) salt intake, it should not be done so because it can cause terrible weakness, drowsiness, depression, convulsions and even coma. Even hypertensive patients need not live with this fear about salt. Normal salt intake is fine, but excess salt in the diet (consumption of French fries, pickles, paapad-s, chaat masaalaa etc.) should be avoided,” according to Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Vijay Surase.