Since our family started the GAPS diet, we have learned so many things that have gone against the grain of thinking that we are accustomed to.  It’s challenged us on one hand as we have had to trust these new protocols, but it’s also been very neat to see the benefits come to fruition.  One healthy habit that I’ve always grown up thinking was that salt was bad and we should limit as best as possible.  There are so many traditional doctors and nutritionist who would back up this claim.  And they are right on one hand but very wrong on the other.  See, what we should be avoiding is the most commonly used salt which is what you would consider table salt.  This salt is sodium chloride and is indeed not good for the body.   Thankfully Mother Nature makes a real salt that you can not only consume without worry but it also provides vital minerals and trace elements that our bodies need.  Two of these common natural salts are celtic sea salt or himalayan salt.

According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, author of the Gut and Psychology Syndrome, “salt in Nature contains many other elements: in fact natural crystal salt and whole sea salt contain all of the minerals and trace elements which the body is made of.”

Here is an exert from her book:  “In this natural state, salt is not only good for us, but essential.  Because the industry requires pure sodium chloride, all the other elements and minerals get removed from the natural salt.  We consume it under the name of “table salt” and of course all of our processed foods contain plenty of it.

This kind of salt comes into the body like a villain, upsetting our homeostasis on the most basic level. Our bodies have been designed to receive sodium chloride in combination with all the other minerals and trace elements which a natural salt would provide. Pure sodium chloride draws water to itself and causes water retention with many consequences, such as high blood pressure, tissue edema and poor circulation.  As the body tries to deal with the excess of sodium chloride, various harmful acids and gall bladder and kidney stones are formed.  As sodium in the body works in a team with many other minerals and trace elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, etc.), the levels of those substances get out of normal balance. The harmful results of table salt consumption can be numerous and serious. That is why most medical practitioners, including the mainstream doctors, tell us not to consume table salt.”

Here is a great article from Dr. Josh Axe on the benefits and differences between celtic sea salt and himalayan salt.  Click here for benefits of sea salt. 

In summary, I can attest to the fact that I liberally use celtic sea salt on all the food I fix in our household.  I have had zero negative side affects like swelling, water retention or bloating due to increased natural salt consumption.  I wanted to share this as this type of information can really positively affect your health. It is super easy to switch out table salt to natural salt.  It is more expensive, but it’s well worth the investment in your health. You can check your local grocery, but you can always order celtic sea salt from Amazon.  There are several options for himalayan as well.