By Katie Welborn, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

We’ve heard for years that too much salt in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health issues… But is salt as bad as it is made out to be?

White table salt contains sodium and chloride only, while sea salts contain a wide variety of minerals. Minerals act like spark plugs in the body, so we cannot function optimally without adequate levels!

Some interesting facts about SALT:

balances fluids and prevents dehydration
regulates blood pressure and pH
regulates the adrenal glands
aids in the production of stomach acid
supports magnesium absorption
regulates muscle contraction
improves insulin resistance
supports immune and brain function
impacts the retention of potassium (important to prevent mineral loss)

Those of us athletes and exercise enthusiasts should pay special attention to salt intake, as it plays an important role in hydration and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. When we sweat, salt is depleted at a much greater rate as compared to other electrolyte minerals.

I always add a generous pinch of sea salt to my water bottle before I hit the gym. If you have an especially long or intense workout, consider taking 1 g salt / per hour of intense exercise or fuel with a salty snack 60-90 minutes before.

A standard American diet, high in fast food and processed food products will likely be high in sodium — as well as added sugar and other ingredients that might contribute to poor health outcomes. But for someone who is cooking the majority of their meals from scratch at home, you might benefit from adding in a bit of salt — just season your food to taste using a high quality, unrefined sea salt.

Our bodies are very smart and communicate with us. If you are craving salty foods, you probably need a bit more!