Being Salty Has Health Benefits: Digging deeper into the world of halotherapy, a method of using sa

Would you prefer table salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt, or no salt?

There are choices even when it comes to salt. We like to have options, and some provide benefits over others. Known as the 'Salt of the Earth' we usually have an affinity for this mineral, some in more way than others. It is said that complaining or "being salty" is healthy because we let our negative emotions out instead of harboring them within. Being salty in nature or not being shy with the salt shaker/grinder on food can be good for the health. Not all salts are created equal, so let's look at some of the differences. Table salt is typically iodized; iodine is mixed in to supplement the diet as it is needed for the production of thyroid hormones. Those that prefer sea salt often acquire iodine from seafood or sea vegetables. Sea salt comes from, well, you guessed it, but as you may also be aware, the sea is becoming increasingly polluted. Now if you are thinking, “who cares about the options, I am just going to go salt-less.”, even if that were feasible in this society full of fillers it is actually more deleterious to your health to avoid salt altogether. "While salt-induced hypertension is typically blamed as a cause of heart disease, a low salt intake is associated with higher mortality from cardiovascular events" states Chris Kresser, citing a 2011 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Kresser, 2011). Being salty is heart healthy as sodium helps in regulating blood volume and pressure. Himalayan salt arguably provides the most benefits when it comes to food-grade salts. This salt is not chemically processed or refined, leaving all 84 minerals within its pink-tinted crystals. These naturally occurring minerals are also found in our bodies, and they are replenished by consuming Himalayan salt. It may be ingested, applied topically such as in a bath, or inhaled from an inhaler or salt lamp. Its versatility provides for its many benefits, ranging from detoxification, reducing muscle cramps, allergies (as an antihistamine) and sinus issues, to balancing pH, hormones, blood pressure and sugar, and it can even help improve energy and weight loss. Pharmaceutical companies often proffer these benefits, but at the cost of various side effects. Alternative medicines might be looked as ineffective, but in the long-run natural remedies can be more sustainable with less drawbacks. The only salt for Tom Brady is Himalayan salt, and going on 40, he still sets records and has youthful good looks (Lee, 2017). They say "you are what you eat" because the body uses what it consumes to sustain itself and make new cells. Food can literally be poison or medicine, so it's good to question which salt or snack is being ingested. Himalayan salt lamps, inhalers , and neti pots can help clear up sinus ailments during the cold and allergy seasons. Treatment with salt is called halotherapy, and interestingly, the prefix "halo" refers to salt in Greek. An amazing form of this therapy is speleotherapy, which utilizes the ion rich air in salt caves or mines to treat respiratory conditions. Salt caves are not a foreign rarity, and can be found in this very state. The Saltana Cave in Ridgefield, Connecticut welcomes sightseers and individuals looking to benefit from salt therapy. We learn new things every day, like being salty can be therapeutic.

Images: http://www.saltanacave.com/

"How to Use Himalayan Salt" K., Sustenance), L. G., M., I., L., J., . . . M. (2016, December 01). Himalayan Salt Benefits: How to use it for all that ails you! Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://empoweredsustenance.com/himalayan-salt-benefits/

"Shaking up the Salt Myth: The Dangers of Salt Restriction" by Chris Kresser Kresser, C., Says, L., Says, J., Says, L. L., Says, H., Says, R., . . . Says, B. (2014, July 16). Shaking up the Salt Myth: The Dangers of Salt Restriction. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from https://chriskresser.com/shaking-up-the-salt-myth-the-dangers-of-salt-restriction/

"This Is What 39-Year-Old Super Bowl QB Tom Brady Eats" by Bruce Lee Lee, B. Y. (2017, February 06). This Is What 39-Year-Old Super Bowl QB Tom Brady Eats. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2017/02/04/this-is-what-39-year-old-super-bowl-qb-tom-brady-eats/

"What Are the Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt?" by Marie Dannie Dannie, M. (2015, May 14). What Are the Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt? Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/26690-health-benefits-himalayan-salt/