For years policy makers and health officials have casted common salt in a negative light. Along with bloating and water retention, salt intake has also been blamed for increased blood pressure which puts more strain is put on the heart, arteries, kidneys and brain, and could eventually result in heart or kidney disease, strokes, and even dementia.
It wasn’t until scientific researchers like the ones at ASEA Science set out to debunk the myth that salt was a secret killer that they found the truth: sea salt can actually be the body’s greatest friend. In fact, not only did the American Journal of Hypertension report that salt intake wasn’t solely responsible for failing health, but evidence also suggested that those on a low-sodium diet had even more unfavorable health outcomes than those who consumed salt regularly. Furthermore, a 2006 study conducted by The American Journal of Medicine found that the more sodium people ate, the less likely they were to die from heart disease.
These findings, and many more like them, sparked curiosity throughout the scientific community: if salt isn’t as bad as everyone thought, could it have beneficial properties that help increase the quality of life? Since debunking the myth that salt was detrimental to human health, researchers and scientists across the globe have explored the many ways that salt can help with healing, anti-aging, boosting energy levels and much more.
Here you’ll find three incredible health benefits of salt.
It Can Restore Your Skin
Sea salt has remarkably potent health benefits, especially when it comes to restoring skin and fighting anti-aging.
- Dehydration can take a toll on your skin, making it look dryer and older than it really is. By drinking sea salt water you can add nutrients to your body that help treat and prevent dehydration. Not only will this help rejuvenate your skin but it will also fend off things like fatigue and headaches that often accompany dehydration.
- Most types of sea salt have trace amounts of potassium, iron, and zinc – all which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and give the appearance and feel of soft, smooth skin. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that bathing in sea salt water can improve skin barrier function, enhance skin hydration, and reduce the redness and inflammation of dry skin.
- Sea salt can detoxify acidity in the body, which prevents premature aging and disease.
- Sea salt is also an incredible exfoliate that can be used to rid your body of dead skin and regenerate the skin for the growth of healthy cells. Regenerated skin is firmer, younger and more even looking.
- Lastly, sea salt has been known to clear up flares of psoriasis and eczema and prevent future breakouts. However, specialists recommend adding 1-2 pounds of sea salt to bath water for immediate relief.
It Helps Improve The Quality Of Sleep
Stress is one of the biggest deterrents of a restful night’s sleep because it acts as a precursor for things like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and more. Scientists have proven that consuming salty snacks or drinking salt water prior to sleep have help reduce levels of hormone cortisol – the “stress hormone.”
The University of Haifa’s Department of Psychology found that the main component in salt, sodium, helps to fight depression and stress (the two of which often go hand-in-hand). They study also reported that people, women in particular, with less salt in their diet were more likely to be depressed and thus had more difficulty sleeping than their counterparts who consumed a regular daily salt intake. By having a normal amount of sodium in your bloodstream, you can reduce your stress response, which will then calm your anxiety and facilitate a better night’s sleep.
Getting adequate sleep every night is key to living a healthy lifestyle. Not only does sleep boost your mood or eliminate under-eye circles, but it’s also beneficial for you heart, weight, mind and much more. By taking a warm salt bath or drinking a glass of sea salt water prior to sleep, you can lower your stress, anxiety, and depression levels to truly get the most out of rest.
It Boosts Your Energy
Your adrenal glands play one of the biggest roles in your body when it comes to maintaining energy levels. Located on the top of each kidney, adrenal glands are largely in charge of making hormones. Thus when you experience adrenal fatigue or adrenal dysfunction, your glands aren’t producing a balanced amount of hormones, which can greatly affect your energy by causing mental, emotional or physical stress.
Sea salt, especially unrefined sea salt, contains vitamins, minerals, and microorganisms that release beneficial bacteria and chemicals which positively affect these adrenal hormones. Bathing in sea salt will help improve your peace of mind as well as boost your energy levels by balancing and healing your adrenal function.