In this article:
- Though it’s easy to take salt for granted, it’s actually pretty essential for life. It’s been used for cooking food and cleaning our bodies for centuries.
- Indeed, salt has plenty of benefits and can be used to boost health and wellness from our heads all the way down to our toes — when used right and consumed in moderation.
- From helping with hydration, blood pressure, and inflammation, to treating ingrown nails and a sore throat, salt is one of the most useful and readily available tools for healthy living.
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Whether it’s common iodized salt, kosher, or Himalayan pink, salt is a constant in our homes and lives. It may not seem like such a big deal these days, but salt is responsible for wars and the creation of kingdoms and trade routes as far back as 6000 BC.
The truth is, the humble kitchen staple doesn’t just make our food more delicious — it’s also important for life. The sodium in salt is required for our bodies to function well, especially because we don’t make salt on our own. And when used right and in moderation, salt has some pretty great health benefits.
But First, What Is Salt?
Salt is composed primarily of sodium chloride (or NaCl) but there are different kinds of salt. Here are a few basic ones:
- Table salt: Also known as common salt, this type of salt looks like fine, white grains. It dissolves quickly, which means it’s great for seasoning and adding flavor to food. It’s also commonly iodized.
- Sea salt: This type of salt has larger crystals, which adds not just flavor, but also texture to different kinds of food. It also has a bit more sodium than other types of salt.
- Smoked salt: Perfect for dry rubs, barbecue, and even popcorn and salads, smoked salts are sea salt flakes that are infused with smoke from wood for up to two weeks. This process gives smoked salt a unique flavor depending on the kind of wood used, which can be subtle or bold.
- Kosher salt: The large, flaky texture of kosher salt means it’s great for drawing out moisture from meat, which helps with the koshering process — hence the name. It tends to be coarser, and does not have common additives like iodine.
- Pink Himalayan salt: Known for its distinctive pink color, this type of salt is sourced near the Himalayan mountains in Asia. It has a significantly lower amount of sodium than regular table salt, but as well as minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. This makes it a great tool for adding flavor to vegetables, fish, and poultry.
The Health Benefits of Salt
Salt can be eaten and used in other ways for better health. From our head all the way to our toes, here’s what salt can do for our bodies.
Rehydrates
For starters, salt promotes healthy hydration and electrolyte balance — both of which are important for our organs to work well. Every cell, tissue, and organ in our body needs water, and salt allows our body to maintain the right amount of it to stay hydrated. Without it, we’re more susceptible to muscle cramps, fatigue, and dizziness.
This is why salt is a common ingredient in sports drinks. When you exercise or work outside, you tend to lose both salt and water as you perspire. The electrolytes in those drinks are mainly sodium and potassium, which help increase water absorption and fluid retention.
It’s also why skincare products tend to use salt in their formulations. Though we’re more familiar with salt’s ability to exfoliate (more on this below!), the minerals found in it — like potassium and magnesium — are great for moisturizing and keeping skin firm. This is true for products like So Well’s Moisturizing Unscented Face Lotion, as well as other products for the body, like the Hydrating Whipped Body Butter.
Supports Thyroid Functions
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland found just above your collarbone, and it’s in charge of regulating many of your body’s functions, like your heartbeat and how fast you burn calories. It also needs the right amount of iodine to work well, and too little can cause all sorts of problems for you, like brain fog, fatigue, constipation, and being sensitive to cold.
The iodine in table salt can help you avoid these symptoms of iron deficiency, as our bodies aren’t able to make our own iodine.
For pregnant women and young children, iodine also helps with the development of the brain and bone structure.
Prevents Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is when there’s not enough pressure to get the right amount of blood to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body regularly. Blood pressure is measured and shown in two numbers, and a reading below 90/60 mmHg is considered low.
Though many people with hypotension might not feel any symptoms, others might be more susceptible to dizziness, fainting, blurry vision, and nausea.
Part of what causes problems with blood pressure is our diet, and a low intake of calcium, magnesium, and sodium — all found in many types of salt — is a common culprit behind low blood pressure. Consuming more salt and hydrating fluids can help improve the volume of blood in our arteries and can translate to a rise in blood pressure.
Of course, it’s also important to avoid the other extreme, which is high blood pressure, so you’d do well to avoid overdoing the sodium intake. Certain types of salt can help you do this, like So Well’s Fair Trade Pink Himalayan Salt. Not only does it have lower levels of sodium than most table salts, but it also comes with a variety of other helpful minerals for optimum health.
Maintains Dental Hygiene
Salt can also help us keep our mouths healthy, as it can act as a disinfectant against the bacteria behind issues like bad breath and gingivitis. You can make a simple rinse out of a cup of water and half a teaspoon of salt to keep your teeth and gums healthy, or even to heal pesky canker sores. That’s because the salt rinse can help reduce the swelling and soreness while also battling the bacterial infection.
Aside from a mouth rinse, you can also use it as a toothpaste, which is the idea behind products like the Cinnamon Natural Tooth Powder, which combines pink Himalayan salt with xylitol and baking soda for a fresh feeling and brighter teeth.
Boosts Skin Health
Salt is a great (and gentle) exfoliant, which means it’s pretty effective at removing dead skin cells and cleansing our pores — while also keeping the skin hydrated.
This last bit is where most other exfoliants fall short, especially when used too much, as exfoliating typically makes skin a bit drier and flakier. In contrast, salt balances power and gentleness in products like So Well’s Organic Foaming Facial Cleanser, which combines it with skincare superstars like green tea, sunflower, jojoba oils, and aloe.
Salt is also good for thwarting the bacteria that causes breakouts and acne. That’s because aside from absorbing dirt and grime, it also helps balance out oil production. It makes for a great active ingredient in the Antioxidant-Rich Facial Toner, which works to help our skin deal with pollution, sun, and wind damage.
Soothes Skin Inflammation
Salt can also come in handy for those with eczema, psoriasis, and other forms of skin inflammation.
That’s because soaking the affected area in mineral-rich salt water can ease redness and moisturize the skin, helping remove the scaly patches and red, itchy, and sensitive spots due to inflammation.
Of course, not everyone can go for a nice long soak in the Dead Sea or Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. But if you’ve got a bathtub at home, then you can also treat yourself to Crystal Himalayan Bath Salts that can do just the trick.
If your inflammation is mostly on your face, then a Detoxifying Face Scrub can work, too.
Help Treat Ingrown Nails
Ingrown nails can be a pain, and anyone who’s had to deal with them knows how difficult and annoying they can be.
Here, salt can come to the rescue, too. If your toe is currently in a lot of pain, try soaking your foot in warm water mixed with salt several times a day, before applying antibiotic ointments and a bandage. This can help ease the swelling and tenderness.
Relieves Sore Throat
Sore throats can be really uncomfortable, and we tend to take swallowing without pain or itchiness all day for granted. Your mom may have made you gargle saltwater when you had a sore throat at some point, and she’s right to do so.
That’s because the salt works to flush the virus and fluids out of your throat, which can help relieve symptoms. Of course, it’s not going to cure you completely, but it will make you feel better until your body fights off the infection.
Plus, that tiny amount of saltwater you might accidentally swallow can help with rehydrating your body (see above!).
For treating a sore throat, simply mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water, and gargle with it.
…. And a Runny Nose
Like a sore throat, a runny nose makes you appreciate all the times you can breathe in and out without much trouble. Another thing they both share is that you’ll feel better with a little salt. To help ease a runny nose, try looking for saline (or salt-and-water solutions) nose sprays at the drugstore.
Deodorizes Without Additional Chemicals
Conscious about how you smell, but wary of chemicals in conventional deodorants? Well, a Himalayan Salt Deodorant might just be right for you. This type of deodorant comes in a crystal form that’s easy to hold, and works by neutralizing the bacteria that tends to cause body odor.
It also helps that it comes without the all-too-common plastic packaging of conventional deodorants, as well as chemicals like parabens and aluminum compounds, which can irritate sensitive skin.
A Bonus Benefit: It Can Also Be Really Pretty
Aside from being eaten or used to clean the body, salt can also serve as decor in the form of Himalayan salt lamps. Whether placed on the floor, on a desk, or on your nightstand, pieces like the Amber Himalayan Salt Lamp make for a pretty great addition to your home, as they provide a soothing, natural feel.
The science about its other benefits — like ionizing the surrounding air and improving mood — is still up in the air, but we do know that a lovely home can make you feel happier and more at peace. The warm, glowing light is also great for relaxing, especially at night.
