Salt is bad, right? I mean, we hear that we have to restrict it if we want to be healthy. We see low sodium food products in supermarkets. So, that must mean that we should avoid it at all costs!! Right?

Well, that depends on what diet you're eating.

Let's say that you are super new to healthy eating and you still find yourself at the fast-food drive-through on the regular. Perhaps most of your food comes out of a box or bag. Maybe you're doing a little better than that, but you often eat out at restaurants.

If that's the case then, yes. You need to watch your sodium intake.
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You see, processed foods contain a TON of sodium!! Why? Because of a few reasons.
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1) To help lengthen the shelf life.
2) To add flavor.
3) To help bind the ingredients.
4) It enhances the color of food.

I hate to break it to you but most companies that sell processed foods are not very concerned with your health, despite the "health claims" on the package. Their main concern is profits and the more you eat, the more they make! 

That's why I think the main reason is the enhanced flavor. Think of those salty chips...you know, you can't eat just one!! 

So, if this lifestyle describes your current situation, don't worry. I will help you make the transition out of processed food land into the glory of whole food eating! 
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​That transition, by the way, is not always easy at first. One of the biggest problems I've seen and personally have gone through, is the feeling of not having balanced electrolytes. I remember how bad I felt when I was moving away from a processed vegetarian lifestyle into a whole foods way of eating . I quickly realized that it was the lack of sodium in my diet. I was not used to salting my foods. There was no need with the frankenfoods I was unfortunately eating.

As I replaced those with healthy, natural foods, I had to add a bit of salt to help my body stay in balance. 

You see, salt is not an enemy. It's actually a necessity. Our levels just need to be balanced. If we have too much, we will be thirsty and retain fluid. This is not good. Not just because you won't be able to get your rings on, but because fluid retention is not good for your heart or your kidneys. Not to mention it can also increase your blood pressure and lead to osteoporosis. 

On the other hand, too little salt, hyponatremia, is a condition I've seen in clients who restrict salt or drink an excessive amount of water. That will deplete all of your minerals. You can have symptoms including nausea, headache, confusion, muscle twitching and fatigue. It can get worse than that, too. Hyponatremia is no joke. 

This is why balance is key!
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Let's take a look at some of the benefits of having a healthy amount of salt in our diet. BUT FIRST, we need to specify what TYPE of salt we need to use to reap all these benefits.

I'll give ya a hint...it's my favorite color! YES, PINK!!  Pink Himalayan salt is my numero uno recommendation when it comes to salt. This is because it has a higher concentration of minerals than table salt. Table salt is highly processed and chemically bleached which is quite different from the very pure pink salt found in the foothills of Pakistan. Pink Himalayan salt also contains over 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. Because of the processing, table salt contains mostly sodium and sometimes added iodine. Oh, and some chemical additives to prevent caking! Ew!

So, needless to say, the following benefits are coming from Pink Himalayan salt​. Not bleached, icky table salt. 
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1) Salt helps to balance your fluid levels:
Like I said earlier, too much salt bloats us by making our body retain water. You see, the water in your body follows the sodium, creating a retention problem. The other mineral that is needed in this situation is potassium. Potassium helps to balance sodium.

Let's go back to our original scenario of eating too much sodium. Over time, this may cause high blood pressure. Adding potassium will help to reduce the body's level of sodium, allowing your body to release water, thus reducing blood pressure. This is why we need a proper balance of sodium and potassium help to keep you balanced. 

I alway rocommend that my clients start their day with a big glass of water with a bit of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Add to that a 1/4 tsp. of cream of tartar and you have a perfect way to increase the potassium you get each day.

2) Salt helps to balance your electrolytes:
Himalayan salt contains sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. How convenient! We need all 6 of these minerals for good health. Thanks pretty, pink salt :) Proper electrolyte balance is necessary for us to feel our best. When they're off we can experience:

• Fatigue
• Muscle spasm and twitching
• changes in blood pressure
• confusion
• irregular heartbeat

3)Pink salt improves your respiratory health:
It is a natural anti-histamine which is helpful for asthma and allergy sufferers. Having natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, pink salt can loosen excessive mucus and remove pathogens in the air like pollen.

4) Helps to balance blood sugar:
Having all those minerals helps with the digestion of sugars and starches and balances blood sugar.

5) Helps with digestion:
Pink Himalayan salt aids in digestion by increasing peristalsis. This will help food move freely through the digestive tract, helping those with constipation issues. It also stimulates the glands that produce our digestive enzymes and also stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, which is secreted in the stomach for the breakdown of food, especially protein.
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Sugar is the one substance that my clients (and myself for that matter) suffer with the most. It's our comfort, our reward and what we crave. Why is that? Why do we suffer at the hands of sugar? I've learned that the more you understand something, the easier it is to change. 

In this video, I explain sugar's effect on your brain and body, and the important thing you can do to stop cravings in their tracks.