The process of making table salt transforms the naturally existing salt into a processed and refined food items. There are chemicals used at different stages. Chemicals interfere with our body’s functions and have been linked to a myriad of health issues. Hence this kind of salt is not a natural food.
It helps to be aware:
● Choose from alternatives - When it comes to choosing from various food alternatives, it can help to put the options on a scale of natural foods vs refined foods. Sea salt and rock salt are commonly available variants of salt.
o Unlike common salt, these are ‘unrefined’ salts and hence free of chemicals and additives.
o They also contain a broad spectrum of trace elements like potassium, sulphur, magnesium etc. The presence of potassium and magnesium in salt is crucial, as these minerals help the body metabolize the sodium better. Excess of sodium is bad for health.
● Evaluate your source - one must engage with the vendor/brand of salt to understand the process with which salt is made. This may help in gauging if the salt is natural as it should be or commercial interests have taken over.
● Salt as a source of minerals - Our body doesn’t need salt per se, it needs the minerals present in the salt, as they occur in their natural state, else they are toxic for our body. We can get these minerals by eating a variety of whole, plant-based foods that are fresh and seasonal. This will give desired inputs to the body for performing its functions and keeping us in good health.
While opting for more natural alternatives is beneficial for the body, you may want to consider making changes based on your comfort. You could either do an immediate change or shift gradually from the salt you are using currently. Irrespective of the kind of salt we choose to have, salt is best consumed in moderation.
Tips to control your salt intake:
Trying to cut down on your salt intake? Here are a few things you can do:
1. REDUCE UNNATURAL FOODS - Avoid processed food, eating pickles and papads as they are high in salt.
2. INCREASE NATURAL FOODS - Increase intake of a wholesome variety of fruits & vegetables. You will naturally get the sodium your body needs & also your cravings for salty food will reduce.
3. USE ALTERNATIVES - Reduce intake of table salt. Try to add flavour to your food through lemon, tamarind, pepper, thyme, rosemary, chillies etc. Use naturally salty vegetables like celery, radish, mint etc in your salads.
4. GRADUALLY REDUCE - Gradually reduce the salt used every day, soon even less salt seems enough.
5. USE SALT SMARTLY - Add a little bit of salt on the surface of the dish after finishing the dish rather than mixing it through. Salt added to the surface of the dish hits the tastebuds first, so a little bit seems enough.
When should we add salt to our cooked food?
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