You may not have realized it before, but salt and diabetes go hand in hand. Salt, in moderation, is good for the body, but you should not exceed the recommended intake which is only 1500 mg to 2400 mg a day. If you are diabetic you should limit your salt to less than 1 tsp. as 1 tsp. contains as much as 2400 mg of sodium.
Most packaged and processed foods will contain salt, so always read the labels. Your best way to avoid excess salt is to cook your meals at home from scratch, as this will help you to better monitor your intake. You may also want to consider switching to a healthier salt.
A Better Choice?
The majority of table salts are refined and contain aluminum anti-caking agents such as alumino-silicate and alumino-calcium silicate. Studies have shown that diabetics are prone to accumulate aluminum around their bones which can lead to aluminum bone disease. Therefore when you avoid salt containing aluminum you can reduce the risks of this happening. Table salt also contains a stabilizer in the form of sugar, which will raise your blood sugar levels.
This makes unrefined sea salt a better choice if you are diabetic, as it does not contain any unnatural ingredients which spike the sugar levels, nor does it contain aluminum. Sea salt, in moderation, can help to balance the sugar levels, plus it helps to prevent diabetes as it aids in the absorption of food.
However, unrefined sea salt does not contain as much iodine as regular table salt. Iodine has been shown to help with diabetes. To ensure that you will get sufficient amounts of iodine, you can add in sea vegetables, spinach, strawberries, rhubarb and mango.
Dangers of Excess Salt
Salt alone does not raise blood sugar levels, but it does raise your blood pressure which is linked to diabetes. Excess salt will also cause water retention which ultimately contributes to diabetes. Therefore if you are suffering from diabetes, you should do everything you can to reduce your salt intake.