A friend and I were going to go out to the local annual fair. When she heard how I sounded this morning she suggested I stay home instead and have a good rest. I seem to be coming down with congestion in the chest. I took her advice and it gave me a chance to begin a slow read of my new book.
The new book I've had on my shelves for a long while. It is called, Salt by Mark Kurlansky. It is a book all about the history of salt and how it has shaped civilization.
Did you know that wars have been fought over salt; that salt has been used for currency, or that in 1930, Ghandi initiated a salt march to overthrow British rule in India? I also found it interesting that "sal" is the Latin word for salt and that our "sal-ary" derives from the word "sal" because soldiers used to be paid in salt. The word "sal-ad" also derives from the word "sal" because at one time, salad was made of vegetables flavoured with salt or a salt based dressing. I've only just started the book but already it sounds very interesting.
Most of us use salt on a daily basis. North American table salt tends to be heavily processed, stripped of its trace minerals and enhanced with anti-caking chemicals like aluminum to make it easier to shake from your salt shaker. In fact, salt is crucial to your health but many of us use overly refined salt and too much of it. In recent years, the governments in North America have been creating awareness of the danger of too much salt, warning that amongst other ailments, too much salt contributes to high blood pressure. Consequently, many of us have cut down on our table and cooking salt, eliminated it or replaced it with herbs or what we think are healthier versions of salt.
I switched to "sea salt" years ago. I put the words "sea" and "salt" in quotation marks because really, all salt comes from the sea. Once salt water evaporates you are left with salt. The real difference comes in the processing of the salt and what is subtracted from, or added to it. For more information on the difference between table salt and sea salt, please read here if interested.
First, I tried Himalayan Sea Salt and I also bought one of the Himalayan salt lamps) to counteract the positive ions created by the computer and television). This type of salt is sold in health food stores here and is very expensive so I switched to a refined Greek sea salt called Kalas, made by the largest producer of sea salt in Greece. I've moved on again to another type of sea salt from an ancient sea bed in Utah, called Real Salt. It is an unrefined salt containing over 60 trace minerals. I can't say it has made a huge difference in how I feel or in the swelling of my extremities but I'll stick with it because I believe the lack of processing and the presence of 60 trace minerals has to be good.
What about you dear reader? Do you also still use regular iodized table salt or have you made a change?
16 comments:
We use all sorts of salt at our house, even Hawaiian red clay sea salt.
In this region of the country most salt for road use, in winters, comes from under Lake Erie. A vast mine. I understand recently there were stability issues and the mine is closed. For years I've had thoughts of the lake rushing into the mine, like a drain. I hope it never happens.
Oh oh, Joyful. I still have the little kid under the umbrella container on my shelf. Yup. Iodized Morton's salt. Sorry. Susan
Oh wow, I hope it never happens too.
Hi Susan, no worries. If you don't have swelling issues or problems like high blood pressure, chances are you don't over use salt anyway :-)
We use only sea salt from specialty shops so we get the mineral value. We have also begun to only drink carbonated sparkling water for health since it seems to have some properties that are beneficial. I did know salt was very precious historically. Happy to read that you are enjoying more books and meditation as well. Keep well.
Hello Heidi, so glad you've found some salt that you and your family enjoy and that has the properties for good health. Have a great week!
Hello Joyful, what a coincidence, I was so surprised when you said you also posted about salt. You know, I tried the Hymalaian salt, surprisingly they sell it here in Sicily in health food shops. It was very good. Normally I used the unrefined salt from the Atlantic. I hope you are feeling better. I am prone to colds and bronchitis so I know how you are feeling. Rest is the best thing. Drinks lots and lots of water, at least two liters if you can manage. Sage tea is also useful, just boil water and pour it over a few fresh sage leaves, let it stand for 10 minutes, then drink it. It helps the congestion. Take care dear.
Hi! Thank you for the imformation. I will explain your post to my wife.
This is so interesting. I have been barely aware that there are many varieties of salt, but am still using regular old iodized salt, though sparingly. What I like is that you have recommended a book that I will be reading, and that I recommended one that you will be reading (The Camel Bookmobile) and that both have camels on the cover. I am entertained by the simplest things!
Olá
agradeço pela informação sobre o sal iodado
eu utilizo o sal marinho também
mas, vou prestar atenção sobre o sal iodado
Zizi
http://zizisantos.blogspot.com.br/
Wonderful! I didn't pick up on the camel coincidence. I guess it is because I'm not feeling so well but am getting better ;-)
Olá, obrigado por sua visita. Fico feliz em ouvir que você usa sal do mar.
Very useful information.
Really, Interesting article! like it. such have a great job..
Interesting and great information on salt. I almost bought the Himalayan sea salt this weekend, but it was way over my budget!
Hi Joyful! You are learning a lot about salt (and so am I because of your post!). I did know about the sal in salary, but I didn't know about salad. Fascinating!
Keep reading, because then you keep learning. And I will too :)
Ceil
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