Salt. Where to begin with these magical grains that so beautifully enhance the flavor our food, while providing minerals crucial to the cellular function of our bodies, lending to our overall health and vitality? And, this mystical compound called salt, has also been maligned over the years, so I'd like to clear up some confusion.
Growing up I was extremely sensitive to the taste of salt, and tended to avoid it completely. When I did eat it, I would experience a warming sensation coupled with an itchy reaction all over my body. Not fun. It wasn't until my early 20's, living in France, enjoying all kinds of delicious foods that were plenty salted, when I realized I was having no reaction whatsoever. WHAT? In France, naturally harvested sea-salt, dried in the sun, is mainly used and eaten. There I learned that not all salts are created equal, and the salt that I had grown up on is a highly refined, and deleteriously processed food. In fact, in our modern world, refined table salt is stripped of trace minerals through a high heat process, and the structure is reduced to NaCl only - sodium chloride. This process also discolors the salt, so it then must be bleached, and anti-caking agents are needed as well. The most commonly used is E554 sodium aluminosilicate with potential side effects of constipation and precautions for kidney + liver disease. Aluminum derivatives have long been implicated in numerous health conditions including Alzheimers disease.
SALT naturally comes from the sea or from the earth's crust (ancient sea beds), and it contains anywhere from 82-93 different minerals that are in perfect balance. The body uses some minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphate and chloride as Electrolytes, which carry a charge and are used in metabolic processes in the body.
Unrefined, unprocessed, natural salts are not white and dry; they can be gray with minerals and feel damp. Some artisanal salts are pink, yellowish, red or even black to reflect the diverse mineral sources they come from. These salts each have their own unique flavor, and are truly delightful to experiment with.
Unfortunately, due to the polluted state of our oceans, it is hard to find ocean-harvested sea salt that doesn’t contain tiny pieces of micro-plastics. This is why I now prefer to use natural sea salt from unpolluted ancient sea beds, like Redmond Real Salt from prehistoric sea beds in Utah and Maldon Flake Sea Salt from England for finishing.
So go on - start enjoying and experimenting with your delectable, intensely flavor enhancing, divine natural sea salt✨
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out:
lisa@lisamarlenethompson.com
I'll be delighted you did🐞
I'm Lisa Thompson, a Functional Nutritionist (FNTP) and I'd like to guide you on a journey to optimal health by providing education, support, accountability, motivation and inspiration. Using a holistic approach, I look deeply at how all of our inter-dependent systems work uniquely, and specifically in each of us- keeping in mind the bigger picture and LIFESTYLE choices that impact our well-being. For instance: how and when we eat, whether we get good sleep, what role exercise plays in our life, and how community, friends, family and belief systems impact our health and vitality.
I am currently taking new clients at this time and would love to work with you.
Email me: lisa@lisamarlenethompson.com