Let’s Talk About Salt: Are you getting enough?

Okay, let's talk about salt... Are you getting enough? More than that, are you getting enough of the right KIND of salt? 

In this video, I explain that well-meaning healthcare professionals will relay the dietary guidelines and espouse that we must watch our salt intake. This is misleading, as salt often gets blamed for damage caused by consuming too much sugar! Salt is healthy and essential for hydration, athletic recovery, cellular transport, nutrient absorption, and electrolyte balance (just to name a few!). If anything, we need MORE salt in our diet!

When it comes to your average table salt, ditch it- it's crap! 

Table salt does not contain adequate minerals, limiting your cells' electrolyte capacity. It is often mixed with anticaking agents, which your body does not need, and the added iodine to table salt isn't necessary when you're eating a well-balanced diet. 

We want to make the switch to mineral salt, including sea salt. Salts from wilder sources are loaded with minerals, which add complexity and flavor when cooking and increase ionization potential, which is critical for cell health! These salts are also essential for staying hydrated. These qualities are ESSENTIAL in pregnancy, and when we advise pregnant women to stay away from salt, we do them more harm than good. 

Cutting out low-quality salty foods such as potato chips, French fries, and fast food and replacing them with homecooked meals doused in high-quality mineral salt is one giant step towards achieving health in such a sick country. 

Here's the catch, though: not all mineral salts can be treated the same. Many contain heavy metals. I recommend Diamond Brand Kosher Salt in this video because it scored the lowest for lead toxicity. Maldon Sea Salt Flakes are also a wonderful option for low-lead salt. 

In pregnancy, especially, keeping lead exposure as LOW as possible is critical for reproductive & fetal health.