Salt is so important in the body that if you drink too much water salt is excreted together with the urine and life-critical threat based on sodium deficiency in blood which is called “hyponatremia” in medicine occurs after a while.
Having too much salt is as deadly as the salt deficiency for the body. If a person have 1gr salt per his weight (70g salt for a person weighing 70kg) this situation causes death. This method was used as a method of suicide by nobility in China once upon a time (since salt was very expensive and hard to find at that time nobility used this method).
Consuming less table salt than what was necessary may cause nausea, mental confusion and pains as well as sodium deficiency and respiratory failure with the same symptoms. Excessive salt consumption may cause edema in the body. Also excessive salt consumption may cause the blood pressure to be increased. It has been known that excessive salt consumption has a blood pressure increasing effect. However this situation is not valid for everyone. Because sodium is not one of the minerals which is stored in the body and excess is removed from the body by means of urine and sweat. Some people may be sensitive to sodium and this causes consuming more salt and as a result higher blood pressure.
Excessive salt consumption increases the calcium removal and causes calcium loss from the bones. Increase in the calcium loss in the bones increases the osteoporosis and bone fracture risk.
According to modern medicine salt is a substance which should be kept away from dieting just like alcohol and cigarettes and it is accepted as one of the most important causes of high blood pressure. Low-salt diet for patients with high blood pressure and cardiac patients is only valid for refined salts. Natural sea salt is a substance which contains lots of mineral, prevents the accumulation of the sodium chloride and decreases the blood pressure. Sea salt removes the excess Sodium. Salt diet/lack of salt accelerates the cell degeneration in the humans and causes a biochemical hunger. Lack of salt may cause kidney weakness, liver stress and adrenal exhaustion. Also it may cause cardiac valve exhaustion problem. Healing power of natural sea salt is being defended to be equal to those of vitamins C and E and other foods.
Salt is required in our body for keeping the salt, operation of muscle and nerves. Salt is found in the composition of the foods and it may be obtained from lakes, seas and rocks purely. The obtained salt is used for storing the food by processing them and to increase the taste of plates. Daily salt requirement of people changes between 4-6 grams per day. Water and salt is lost in hot seasons, excessive body movements and in inflammatory diseases by sweating and by means of urine. Due to this reason while the people living in comfortable environment have less need for salt, people working in manual labor, people who cannot be protected from heat and people got diarrhea often have a higher salt requirement.
Salt is found in small amounts in natural foods. The foods which contain the largest amount of salt are vegetables with green leaves, milk, meat and egg. Aside from these, processed foods contain more salt. The processed foods which contain the most salt are brine foods (olives, cheese, pickles), biscuits, cake etc., cans, coffee and bread. Consuming lots of processed food increases the salt intake as well.
The people who do not require much salt do not need to add salt to their foods and should consume less processed salty foods. Aside from these, people who urinate and sweat more and get more diarrheas are obligated to add salt to their foods and drinks.
Salt increases the blood pressure. Due to this reason people with high blood pressure are not recommended to add salt to their foods. Also salt in the components of the natural foods should be contended with and salt should not be added to the foods in the cases such as kidney disorders, some cardiac diseases and edemas in specific places of the body.
In the case of extreme diarrhea, liquids which are the mixtures of salt, sugar, lemon juice and tea save lives. Again the negative effect of diarrhea and excessive sweating may be removed with salted ayran (drink made of yoghurt and water).
Symptoms of Natural Salt Deficiency and Probable Indications
- Brittleness of the bones and osteoporosis
- Abnormal mineral accumulation on the tissues (atherosclerosis, cataract, kidney stone)
- Food malabsorption
- Abnormal muscle functions such as cramps, spasms and chronic strain (including the cardiac function)
- Weakness in the functionality of the glands (adrenaline, thyroid, female or male organs)
- Weakness in the nerve system functions
- Kidney problems
- Edema (water accumulation)
- Urinary incontinence
- Chronic back pain
- Weak blood circulation
- Unwieldiness in lungs
- Low or high pressure in blood
- Extreme sugar craving
- Joint stiffness
- Epigastric burning or acid ingestion
- Tendency towards addiction
- Low sperm count and infertility in women
- Chronic urinary tract infections
- Constant need to urinate and excessive sweating
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Gas, swelling and indigestion
- Foods which are consumed raw to cause stomach pain
- Menstrual irregularities
- Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
- Significant exhaustion
- Anorexia (eating disorder)
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Insomnia
