Are You Over-Salted?
Are You Over-Salted?
Readers of The Fast Metabolism Diet will note that while we talk a lot about salt, we don’t focus on the amount of salt.
We don’t count sodium grams on the 28-day diet because we’re using sea salt; my favorites are Celtic salt and Himalayan salt. I do not advocate the use of sodium chloride, otherwise known as table salt.
Sodium chloride, in order to make it flow smoothly and be sparkling white in color, has been stripped of almost all goodness. It’s practically void of minerals, other than sodium chloride, of course.
On the other hand, Celtic salt and Himalayan salt are full of minerals. In fact, they contain small amounts of all 84 essential minerals. Those minerals are key for maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance. So it’s easy to see how these natural salts are much better for you. We discuss Celtic salt and Himalayan salt more fully in this article.
I also find that natural salts are more satisfying than table salt. They are much more pungent, and you tend to use less of them for that reason.
Constantly Craving Salt? That’s Another Matter.
With my clients, we simply don’t worry about counting salt grams as long as natural salts are used.
But if you find yourself adding lots of salt at the table, or constantly craving it, your body may be trying to tell you something.
We have a whole blog post on what salt cravings can mean.
It can mean that your sodium/potassium balance is off. Try adding potassium-rich foods to your meals, like white beans, spinach, acorn squash, artichokes, mushrooms, parsley and cilantro.
Pay special attention to Phase 1 because a salt craving can be an indication of adrenal stress. Therefore, nurturing the adrenals can actually reduce salt cravings. Choose higher glycemic fruits in Phase 1, like pineapple and mango, to offer more adrenal support.
Lastly, consider asking your doctor to check your electrolyte levels to make sure you don’t have a serious imbalance.
Are You Over-Salted?
Readers of The Fast Metabolism Diet will note that while we talk a lot about salt, we don’t focus on the amount of salt.
We don’t count sodium grams on the 28-day diet because we’re using sea salt; my favorites are Celtic salt and Himalayan salt. I do not advocate the use of sodium chloride, otherwise known as table salt.
Sodium chloride, in order to make it flow smoothly and be sparkling white in color, has been stripped of almost all goodness. It’s practically void of minerals, other than sodium chloride, of course.
On the other hand, Celtic salt and Himalayan salt are full of minerals. In fact, they contain small amounts of all 84 essential minerals. Those minerals are key for maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance. So it’s easy to see how these natural salts are much better for you. We discuss Celtic salt and Himalayan salt more fully in this article.
I also find that natural salts are more satisfying than table salt. They are much more pungent, and you tend to use less of them for that reason.
Constantly Craving Salt? That’s Another Matter.
With my clients, we simply don’t worry about counting salt grams as long as natural salts are used.
But if you find yourself adding lots of salt at the table, or constantly craving it, your body may be trying to tell you something.
We have a whole blog post on what salt cravings can mean.
It can mean that your sodium/potassium balance is off. Try adding potassium-rich foods to your meals, like white beans, spinach, acorn squash, artichokes, mushrooms, parsley and cilantro.
Pay special attention to Phase 1 because a salt craving can be an indication of adrenal stress. Therefore, nurturing the adrenals can actually reduce salt cravings. Choose higher glycemic fruits in Phase 1, like pineapple and mango, to offer more adrenal support.
Lastly, consider asking your doctor to check your electrolyte levels to make sure you don’t have a serious imbalance.
